80 Social networks of Japan

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, apps and the like. But have you ever wondered what the apps, websites and social networks in Japan look like? This article gathers a long list of the popular apps, social networks and websites that shape daily life in Japan — from LINE and Twitter to platforms you have probably never heard of outside the country.

Contents 10

LINE [ライン]

LINE is essentially the WhatsApp of Japan: an app for calls, free messages and voice messages, with all the functions of WhatsApp — and a few more on top.

You can customise the app the way you want, and it also has a Timeline feature where you can post photos and your friends can comment and like, similar to the Facebook timeline.

A whole ecosystem has grown around LINE: LINE App itself, LINE Games, LINE Taxi, LINE Pay and several others. If you live in Japan — or simply keep in touch with people there — it is hard to avoid LINE.

• Why do Japanese people use LINE instead of WhatsApp?
• Official website: https://line.me/ja/

MOBAGE [モバゲー]

Mobage launched in 2006 as "Mobage Town" and was renamed to "Mobage" on 28 March 2011. It is a social network and a games portal in one.

Its main purpose is to work as a game distribution platform, where developers can publish their games and reach millions of users.

There you can browse different game categories and play with your friends.

Official website: https://www.mbga.jp/

NICONICO [ニコニコ]

If LINE is the WhatsApp of Japan, then Niconico is the YouTube of Japan. YouTube is also popular in Japan, but Niconico is even more so, especially for anime, gaming and vocaloid content.

It launched on 12 December 2006 and is available in three languages: Japanese, English and Chinese.

Niconico is a video hosting service where users can upload, watch and share video clips, and the famous scrolling comments make watching a clip feel like a shared, public experience.

• Article about Nico Nico Douga
• Official website: https://www.nicovideo.jp/

GREE [グリー]

GREE is a mobile gaming social platform founded in 2004 in Tokyo — the same year Facebook launched — and offers more than seven thousand games and apps to its users.

It became popular in Japan after launching "Fishing Star" in 2007, one of the first mobile games in the world. The platform has reported over 26 million registrations in Japan and over 155 million worldwide.

Official website: https://gree.jp/

Twitter [ツイッター]

Twitter launched in 2006 and now has hundreds of millions of active users worldwide.

Twitter became especially popular in Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, when it proved useful for real-time updates. Today, with the "Lifeline" feature, it also helps people stay in touch when other communication services go down.

Official website: https://twitter.com/?lang=ja

Mixi [ミクシィ]

Mixi launched in 2004 and reached over 25 million members, at one point becoming the most visited social network in Japan. To join, you traditionally had to be invited by an existing member or live in Japan, which helped build a closed, private community.

With the rise of LINE and Twitter, Mixi's audience shrank — but its strong privacy model is still part of its identity.

Official website: https://mixi.jp/

Of course, many other social networks have their own popularity in Japan — Facebook, YouTube, Skype, Tumblr, Google, and many more — but the platforms above dominate the local conversation. Do you use any of them?

List of Social Networks in Japan (SNS)

It would take years to describe every social network that has ever existed in Japan. Some have shut down, others survive with a small but loyal community. Below is a working list of Japanese social networks and SNS, including both active and historical services:

• 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 and Regional Networks

• 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 use these platforms, Instagram in particular. Their profiles sometimes look abandoned, but you will still find plenty of people to follow there.

You may also enjoy our article on Facebook vocabulary in Japanese.