It is difficult to find someone who does not use any means of communication over the internet. And when you think of a means of communication, you already think of social networks, websites, among others. But have you ever wondered what the apps, websites, and social networks in Japan are like? Here is a small list of some popular apps, social networks, and websites in Japan:
LINE [ライン]
Line is the WhatsApp of Japan; it is an app for calls, free messages, voice messages, and has all the functions of WhatsApp and more.
You can change and customize the app your way, and it also has the Timeline feature, where you can post your photos and your friends can comment and like, similar to Facebook’s timeline.
It also has several services like LINE App, LINE game, LINE taxi, and others.
- Why do Japanese people use LINE instead of WhatsApp?
- Official website: https://line.me/ja/
MOBAGE [モバゲー]
Mobage was launched as (Mobage Town) in 2006 and on March 28, 2011, recognized as (Mobage). It is a social network and portal for games.
Its main objective is to function as a game distributor where app developers can use this platform to share their games with millions of users.
There you can find various categories of games and have fun with your friends.
Official website: https://www.mbga.jp/
NICONICO [ニコニコ]
Since Line is the WhatsApp of Japan, then niconico is the YouTube of Japan; YouTube is also popular in Japan, but niconico is more so.
It was launched on December 12, 2006, and has three available languages: Japanese, English, and Chinese.
Niconico is a video hosting service where users can upload, view, and share video clips.
- Article about Nico Nico Douga
- Official website: https://www.nicovideo.jp/
GREE [グリー]
Gree is a mobile gaming social platform founded in the same year as Facebook, in 2004 in Tokyo, Japan, providing over seven thousand games and apps for its users.
It became popular in Japan because it launched in 2007 ”Fishing Star”, one of the first mobile games in the world; this platform has over 26 million registrations in Japan and over 155 million registrations worldwide.
Official website: https://gree.jp/
Twitter [ツイッター]
Twitter was launched in 2006 and currently has over 313 million active users worldwide.
Twitter started to become more popular in Japan in recent years, especially during the earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Now with the ”Lifeline” feature, a service that helps people communicate when other communication services go down.
Official website: https://twitter.com/?lang=ja
Mixi [ミクシィ]
Mixi was launched in 2004 and has over 25 million members. It became the most visited social network in Japan. To join this social network, you need to be invited by an already registered member or live in Japan.
With the high usage of Line and Twitter, this network has declined a bit; one of its advantages is total privacy.
Official website: https://mixi.jp/
Of course, many other social networks have their popularity in Japan, such as Facebook, YouTube, Skype, Tumblr, Google, and many others, but the social networks mentioned in this article dominate Japan. Do you use any of these networks?
List of Social Networks in Japan SNS
We will not talk in detail about each social network existing in Japan because it would take years. Some simply went bankrupt, while others still exist with a very small community. Below we have a list of all the social networks in Japan:
- Circle player
- CURURU
- GREE
- Lang-8
- LINE
- Misskey
- mixi
- ixim
- Net City
- Amebaグルっぽ
- Netlog
- Noritel
- Serend（セレンド）
- UbiBay
- Uncoon(アンクーン)
- Worldia
- オリラン
- カフェスタ
- コトノハ
- 趣味人倶楽部
- 前略プロフィール
- みなくるホーム
- みんながつくる街
- 楽天リンクス
- ワンメイク
- 大集合NEO
- モバゲータウン
- ドコモコミュニティ
- mobion
- ジュエル・コミュ
- みんなの株式
- ネコジルシ
- みんカラ
- コスプレCure
- Filn
- pixiv
- zigsow
- とりあえずビール
- e*meters（イーメーターズ）
- Xacariva（サカリバ）
- NazoLab
- Lounge Lounge
- 異業種ネット
- Pop-Company
- マチマチ
- Lobi
- Miiverse
- ひま部
- QuonNet
- 法政大学オレンジコミュニティ
- 千葉大学校友会SNS Curio
For Photos and Videos
- GANREF
- creative people
- Sketch
- フォト蔵
- So-net Photo
- OCNフォトフレンド
- zoome
- pick
- ally (SNS)
Specialized in Communication
- コミュチカ
- ラブマツ
- 山武SNS
- 豊川地域ポータルサイト みてみン!
- @ami’z（アミーズ）
- ちよっピー
- おここなごーか
- はちみーつ
- ちちぶ市民ネットワークサービス
- おおがき地域SNS
- いけいけすざか
- e-じゃん掛川
- お茶っ人
- マチカネっ人
- gotoかたらんねっと
- ま～じんま 奄美市地域SNS
- Lococom
- げんき-NETひたちなかSNS
- 桜川市地域SNSコミュニティ
- おおつSNS
- 日刊わしら
Facebook and Instagram
Japanese people also tend to use these social networks, especially Instagram. Often their profiles may be deserted and abandoned, but you will be able to find many people on them.
We recommend reading: Facebook Vocabulary in Japanese
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