The man who inspired 4chan is now its owner

In a move that brings 4chan "full circle," founder Christopher Poole sold the popular anonymous message board to Hiroyuki Nishimura, he announced Monday.

"Hiroyuki is a pioneer in the world of anonymous communities, and can be thought of as the great-grandfather of 4chan," Poole wrote, noting Nishimura created his site's anime- and manga-focused predecessor, 2Channel. "None of us would be using 4chan today — or potentially any anonymous image board — if it weren't for him."

Though 4chan also focused specifically on Japanese pop culture when it launched in 2003, in recent years it has been best known for the hoaxes and pranks its users often orchestrate. The site now sees more than 20 million visitors each month, a feat Poole accomplished without help from full-time employees or venture capital, The New York Times reports.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

In January, Poole stepped down from handling the site's day-to-day operations. Nishimura, who sold 2channel in 2009, now serves as editor-in-chief of the newly launched Variety Japan.