Livedoor

Livedoor was a Japanese internet services company based in Tokyo that operated a range of online services, including a general web portal, blogging platform, content publishing, and e-commerce initiatives. Founded in 1996 by Takafumi Horie as Livedoor Co., Ltd., the company grew rapidly in the early 2000s as part of Japan's internet boom. Livedoor expanded beyond its portal into online media and advertising networks, and it launched popular services such as Livedoor Blog and Livedoor News, contributing to a broader ecosystem of user-generated content and online commerce.

The company pursued aggressive growth and public visibility, eventually listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Livedoor became one of the best-known internet businesses in Japan during that period, helped by Horie's media presence and entrepreneurial profile.

In 2006, Livedoor faced investigations by Japanese regulators over accounting practices, culminating in the arrest of founder Takafumi Horie and a broader corporate governance crisis. The company was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and its assets and operations were reorganized and sold to other firms in the ensuing years. Horie was convicted of securities fraud in connection with the case.

The Livedoor episode had a lasting impact on corporate governance and investor protection in Japan, contributing to reforms and heightened scrutiny of corporate disclosures. The Livedoor brand as a standalone internet services firm no longer operates in the same form, with the business activities absorbed into other companies.