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Christopher Poole Sells 4chan to 2channel Founder Hiroyuki Nishimura

posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda

4chan founder Christoper Poole (moot) announced on Monday that he has sold the 4chan website to 2channel website founder Hiroyuki Nishimura.

In the announcement, Poole noted, "[Nishimura] is one of few individuals with a deep understanding of what it means to provide a digital home for tens of millions of people for more than a decade. There is nobody more qualified than Hiroyuki to lead 4chan, and I can't think of a person better suited for the task."

In a statement to The New York Times, Nishimura stated, "I've long admired 4chan's place on the web as a producer of anonymous and Internet culture, and look forward to continuing to grow and develop the site and support the community."

Nishimura founded the anonymous imageboard 2channel in 1999. The imageboard allows users to post images and messages anonymously, and has more than 600 active "boards" dedicated to broad topics. The Densha Otoko story originated in the site, as well as multiple other social phenomena. Nishimura resigned from the 2channel company in 2002.

Inspired by 2channel, Poole founded the 4chan anonymous imageboard in 2003, initially to discuss anime. The site is the origin of many Internet memes and social phenomena. The site has gained notoriety for being the origin of the Anonymous hacktivist group. Poole stepped down as the site's administrator on January 21.

Poole and Nishimura had their first official public meeting in July 2011, which the Nico Nico Douga site streamed.

Nishimura previously served as Director of Niwango Inc., the company that launched Nico Nico Douga. Recently, he was announced as editor-in-chief of the newly launched Variety Japan.

Poole also launched the Canvas website in 2010, and shut it down in January 2014.

[Via Forbes]


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