10 Entertaining Facts About Emojis
1. Emojis Originated in Japan
The first emoji set was created in 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita, a Japanese designer working for a mobile company called NTT DoCoMo. The original set had just 176 emojis, inspired by manga (Japanese comic books known for their expressive characters), weather symbols, and kanji characters (the stylized symbols used in Japanese writing to represent words or ideas.
The result was a compact visual language that could express emotions, actions, and objects in a single character—perfect for fast-paced text communication.
2. The Word "Emoji" Doesn’t Come from "Emotion"
Despite sounding like "emotion" + "icon," the word emoji is actually Japanese.
"E" means picture
"Moji" means character
It’s just a happy coincidence that it fits so well in English!
3. There’s an Emoji of the Year
The Unicode Consortium (the group that standardizes emojis) often partners with organizations like Emojipedia to announce an Emoji of the Year. In 2021, the most used emoji was the face with tears of joy.
4. The First Emoji Sent from Space
In 2015, American astronaut Scott Kelly made emoji history while aboard the International Space Station (ISS). He tweeted a message that included emojis, making them the first emojis ever officially sent from space.
The tweet wasn’t just for fun—it was part of NASA’s efforts to connect with the public in a more engaging and relatable way. Kelly’s message included a photo of Earth, a globe emoji, and other playful icons to reflect life aboard the ISS.
5. There’s a World Emoji Day
July 17 is officially World Emoji Day—chosen because the calendar emoji typically shows that date. It’s celebrated with emoji-themed events, announcements of new emoji releases, and even emoji awards.
6. You Can Order Pizza with Just an Emoji
In 2015, Domino’s launched a system that let customers order pizza by tweeting just the pizza emoji. Once your account was set up, sending this emoji to Domino’s Twitter handle placed your go-to order instantly. It was a clever mix of fast food, social media, and just a bit of magic—texting your dinner into existence.
7. Some Emojis Are Considered Art
In 2016, New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) added Shigetaka Kurita’s original 1999 emoji set to its permanent collection. The tiny 12×12-pixel icons were recognized not just as tech tools, but as a new form of visual language—a creative and cultural leap in how we express emotion in the digital age.
8. There Are More Than 3,700 Emojis
As of 2024, the Unicode Standard supports over 3,700 emojis, and the number keeps growing. From skin tone and gender variations to flags, foods, animals, professions, and accessibility symbols, emojis have become one of the most inclusive and evolving forms of digital communication—a tiny icon for nearly everything.
9. Some Emojis Have Caused Legal Trouble
In recent years, emojis have appeared as evidence in court cases—including cases involving harassment, threats, and contracts. Believe it or not, a simple kiss or a gun emoji can sometimes have legal weight depending on context.
10. Emoji Popularity Changes by Country
Emoji use isn’t just a global trend—it has a local flavor, too. Different countries have their own favorites:
Australians frequently use the dancing woman emoji, reflecting a fun-loving, celebratory vibe.
Brits are heavy users of the loudly crying face, perhaps channeling dry humor or dramatic flair.
Canadians lead in using the pile of poo emoji—perhaps their way of keeping things light, silly, or sarcastic.
Emoji culture varies just like language and humor. Wherever you are in the world, there's likely an emoji that captures the national mood.