twochannel

Twochannel, commonly known as 2channel or 2ch, is a Japanese textboard launched in 1999 by Hiroyuki Nishimura. It operates as an anonymous, text-based bulletin board system that allows users to post in various topic-specific boards without registering an account. Threads typically consist of short messages, with new replies appended chronologically.

Access to the site is by a simple web interface; posts are contributed by a large user base and governed by site rules rather than by formal authentication. Because of its anonymity, discussions can be broad, rapid, and volatile, covering topics from news to entertainment to niche hobbies. The site helped foster a distinctive online culture, slang, memes, and a rapid exchange of information that influenced later Japanese internet communities.

Over the years, 2channel has faced legal and governance challenges related to defamation, copyright, and the spread of harmful content. The operator and owners have changed hands, leading to forks and mirror sites that continue to host similar forums. Despite these changes, 2channel remains a reference point in Japanese online culture, with many offshoots and successors.