Why is the stroke order of も peculiar?


In most hiragana the horizonal stokes are drawn first, but も is an exception.
Is there any reason for this?




I think silvermaple's answer is right, but to add a little bit:

  * The katakana `モ` was derived from the 楷書体 (block writing) [`毛`](http://www.winttk.com/kakijun/2/20230.htm). **The initial short stroke was dropped** , ending up with two horizontal strokes, and then the vertical stroke.
  * The hiragana `も` was derived from the 草書体 (script) `毛`, in which, for the sake of writing speed, **the vertical stroke was conflated with and became part of the initial short stroke** , ending up with the initial long stroke and then the two horizontal strokes.




I think silvermaple's answer is right, but to add a little bit:

  * The katakana `モ` was derived from the 楷書体 (block writing) [`毛`](http://www.winttk.com/kakijun/2/20230.htm). **The initial short stroke was dropped** , ending up with two horizontal strokes, and then the vertical stroke.
  * The hiragana `も` was derived from the 草書体 (script) `毛`, in which, for the sake of writing speed, **the vertical stroke was conflated with and became part of the initial short stroke** , ending up with the initial long stroke and then the two horizontal strokes.

