World2ch.net is a landmark site in internet history, widely recognized as the first major English-language "textboard" (a precursor to the modern imageboard culture). It served as the primary bridge between the Japanese anonymous bulletin board community and the burgeoning English-speaking anonymous web in the early 2000s. 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The domain world2ch.net was first registered on January 2, 2003. First Wayback Machine Capture: The Internet Archive first captured a snapshot of the site on February 14, 2003. First Launch: The site was launched in early 2003 (January or February) by a developer known as Taichirou Kosugi (often using the handle "RIR6" or "RIR7"). It was created as a project to bring the Japanese BBS experience to an international audience. 2. What is the site? World2ch was an anonymous textboard modeled directly after the massive Japanese site 2channel (2ch.net). Unlike modern imageboards (like 4chan), textboards focused primarily on text-based threads where posters remained anonymous and conversations were organized chronologically, with new replies "bumping" threads to the top. The Hub of English Anonymity: Before the rise of 4chan, World2ch was the place where English-speaking fans of Japanese subcultures gathered. It was the "first American textboard" and facilitated the first large-scale mingling of Japanese and Western internet users. The 4chan Connection: World2ch is historically significant because it was the direct precursor to 4chan. In fact, Christopher "moot" Poole (the founder of 4chan) was a user on World2ch and famously posted the announcement of 4chan’s launch on World2ch in October 2003. This led to the "first Western Chan war," a period of intense rivalry and cross-posting between the two communities before 4chan eventually overtook World2ch in popularity. Current Status: The original world2ch.net is no longer as active. It remains a "legendary" site in the "Small Web" and "Old Web" communities, often documented by digital historians as the foundation of modern anonymous culture. 3. What does the name mean? The name is a literal description of its purpose: World: Signifies the "World Wide" or international English-speaking audience. 2ch: A direct reference to 2channel (Ni Channeru), the legendary Japanese BBS founded by Hiroyuki Nishimura. World2ch: Effectively means "The World's 2channel" or "English 2channel." The "2ch" moniker itself comes from 2channel’s status as a "successor" or "second channel" to a previous Japanese board called Amezou. Images from 1-2026