Wapchan

wapchan is an imageboard that tries to go for a “classic net” feel through regular streams, game nights, and more. we’re mostly focused around retro anime and manga, but we have some other boards as well. we also have a radio station, a IRC server, a BBS and much more! forget the soulless modern web and get comfy, friend.

1. Key Dates and Registration

• Domain Registration: The domain wapchan.org was first registered on December 30, 2021.
• Launch: According to the site’s own welcome message, it officially launched on New Year’s Day, 2022.
• First Wayback Machine Capture: The Internet Archive first captured the site on January 4, 2022, shortly after its debut.
• History: The site was created to fill a niche for fans of “Retro Anime” who felt that modern imageboards had become too focused on contemporary seasonal shows or toxic discourse. It is managed by a developer known as figamin.

2. What is the site?

Wapchan is a community-run imageboard with a specific focus on pre-2000s anime and manga.

• Fandom Focus: It is most famous for its “Rumic World” board, which is dedicated to the works of legendary manga artist Rumiko Takahashi (creator of Urusei Yatsura, Ranma ½, and Inuyasha).
• The “Wholesome” Angle: Unlike many imageboards known for hostility, Wapchan has a dedicated “Random Acts of Kindness” board (/kind/) and explicitly promotes a more polite, hobbyist-focused atmosphere.
• Aesthetics: The site uses a “Web 1.0” visual style, featuring 8-bit graphics, MIDI-style music via a built-in radio station, and an interface that mimics the early 2000s internet experience. It even includes a “WAP” (Wireless Application Protocol) optimized version for older mobile devices.

3. What does the name mean?

The name is a clever double-reference:

• Wapanese: The site’s official FAQ states that Wapchan is short for “Wapanese Channel.” “Wapanese” (a portmanteau of Wannabe-Japanese) was the original internet slang term for a Western fan obsessed with Japanese culture before the word “Weeaboo” was coined on 4chan in 2005.
• WAP: The name also plays on Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), the standard used for mobile internet in the late 90s and early 2000s, fitting the site’s retro-tech theme.
• Chan: The standard suffix for imageboards.

6/30/2023 screenshot after major updates

12-11-23 marked dead

12-16-23 its back!

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