Hiroyuki Nishimura
Encyclopedia
is the founder and a former administrator of the most accessed Japanese message board site 2channel
. He currently holds a position of Director at Niwango Inc., known for its service Nico Nico Douga
.
In Japan, he is usually known by his given name, Hiroyuki.
, Kanagawa
but raised in Tokyo
. He founded the company Tokyo Access in 1998 while he was at Chuo University
. In May 1999, he opened 2channel while he was studying at the University of Central Arkansas
. In June 2001, he founded Irregulars and Partners, Inc with Ichirō Yamamoto (handle: Kirikomi Taichō), but later left there.
Nakao (also known by the handle FOX) is a server specialist, and has been managing most of the 2channel servers since the Neomugicha incident
, a case in 2000 in which a 17-year-old posted messages threatening to hijack a bus, and then went on to kill one person in the hijacking. The event caused a huge wave of user access, and the old servers went down.
As of 2008, 2ch generates revenue upwards of ¥100 million per year for Nishimura. The site is also run by 300 "volunteer administrators" who receive no pay. Nishimura justified this with the comment, "I don't think that's all that different from some dude who opens a convenience store in front of a train station. They can make a million yen a day."
He occasionally talks about self responsibility on the Internet, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between truth and lies in the huge quantity of information available online. He has been quoted as saying, "If you would not like others to know something, you should not write it anywhere."
Though Nishimura has lost some number of libel lawsuits with a considerable amount in penalties, he is quoted in some number of interviews that he has no intention of paying. "If the verdict mandates deleting things, I'll do it," he says. "I just haven't complied with demands to pay money. Would a cell phone carrier feel responsible when somebody receives a threatening phone call?"
.
2channel
is a Japanese textboard. In 2007 there were 2.5 million posts made every day. Launched in 1999, it has gained significant influence in Japanese society, comparable to that of traditional mass media such as television, radio, and magazines. As of 2008, the site generates revenue upwards of ¥100...
. He currently holds a position of Director at Niwango Inc., known for its service Nico Nico Douga
Nico Nico Douga
is a popular video sharing website in Japan managed by Niwango, a subsidiary of Dwango. Its nickname is "Niconico" or "Nico-dō", where "nikoniko" is the Japanese ideophone for smiling. Nico Nico Douga is the thirteenth most visited website in Japan...
.
In Japan, he is usually known by his given name, Hiroyuki.
Career
Nishimura was born in SagamiharaSagamihara, Kanagawa
is a city located in north central Kanagawa Prefecture, bordering Tokyo, Japan. It is the third most populous city in the prefecture, after Yokohama and Kawasaki, and the fifth most populous suburb of Greater Tokyo. Its northern neighbor is Machida, with which a cross-prefectural merger has been...
, Kanagawa
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
but raised in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. He founded the company Tokyo Access in 1998 while he was at Chuo University
Chuo University
Chuo University is a one of the Japanese leading universities. Thus it is competitive in several rankings such as shown below.-General Rankings:The university has been ranked 27th, 25th, 34th during 2008-2010 respectively in the ranking "Truly Strong Universities" by Toyo Keizai.-Research...
. In May 1999, he opened 2channel while he was studying at the University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
The University of Central Arkansas is a state-run institution located in the city of Conway, the seat of Faulkner County, north of Little Rock and is the fourth largest university by enrollment in the U.S. state of Arkansas, and the third largest college system in the state. The school is most...
. In June 2001, he founded Irregulars and Partners, Inc with Ichirō Yamamoto (handle: Kirikomi Taichō), but later left there.
2ch
Nishimura, Ichirō Yamamoto, and Yoshihiro "Yakin" Nakao, President of ZERO Co.Ltd. were the early central management members of 2channel, but Ichirō Yamamoto left the group in 2002, and Nishimura resigned from his company.Nakao (also known by the handle FOX) is a server specialist, and has been managing most of the 2channel servers since the Neomugicha incident
Neomugicha incident
The is the name given to the 2000 hijacking of a Japanese bus by a user of internet forum 2channel after placing a warning on the website.An hour after posting a cryptic threat in a thread with the name "Neomugicha" , the 17-year-old youth hijacked a bus "the Wakakusu" in Dazaifu, Fukuoka, Japan,...
, a case in 2000 in which a 17-year-old posted messages threatening to hijack a bus, and then went on to kill one person in the hijacking. The event caused a huge wave of user access, and the old servers went down.
As of 2008, 2ch generates revenue upwards of ¥100 million per year for Nishimura. The site is also run by 300 "volunteer administrators" who receive no pay. Nishimura justified this with the comment, "I don't think that's all that different from some dude who opens a convenience store in front of a train station. They can make a million yen a day."
Personality
Nishimura is known for loving Umaibō, a Japanese snack, and for a period of time the server names of the 2channel site were taken from the names of Umaibō, like pizza, curry, potato, and so forth.He occasionally talks about self responsibility on the Internet, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between truth and lies in the huge quantity of information available online. He has been quoted as saying, "If you would not like others to know something, you should not write it anywhere."
Though Nishimura has lost some number of libel lawsuits with a considerable amount in penalties, he is quoted in some number of interviews that he has no intention of paying. "If the verdict mandates deleting things, I'll do it," he says. "I just haven't complied with demands to pay money. Would a cell phone carrier feel responsible when somebody receives a threatening phone call?"
Position
As of January 2007, Nishimura is an advisor to Skip-Up KK, CEO of Tokyo Plus KK, Director of Mirai Kensaku Brazil (Future Search Brazil) Ltd., and also a Director of Niwango Inc., the company that launched Nico Nico DougaNico Nico Douga
is a popular video sharing website in Japan managed by Niwango, a subsidiary of Dwango. Its nickname is "Niconico" or "Nico-dō", where "nikoniko" is the Japanese ideophone for smiling. Nico Nico Douga is the thirteenth most visited website in Japan...
.