Japan.co.jp: Hardhat Required
A living, binge-readable history of the early Internet in Japan—built from artifacts, timelines, and a story that answers the question people ask instantly: How did a gaijin get to own Japan.co.jp?
What this site is
Japan.co.jp is a primary-source archive and a narrative history. It’s built for readers who want the feel of the era: the constraints, the hacks, the deals, the momentum, the shock moments—and the long rebuild.
The backbone is the book Japan.co.jp: Hardhat Required, supported by a growing set of artifacts (press clips, ads, scans) and a structured timeline. This is not a museum page you visit once; it’s a site you return to.
The spine of the story (in plain English)
This project is dedicated to Japanese consumers, entrepreneurs, and engineers who continue to build.
And to the reader: never stop. Keep going. Gambatte.
Artifacts
Primary-source highlights—kept as separate pages so they can be cited, linked, and revisited.
Metamorph Case Study
A business school case study—framed as a direct challenge: What would you do with Metamorph?
If you were standing in 1992–1995 with the tools of that era—slow modems, limited storage, and a hunger for searchable information—what would you build?
Archive structure
Modular pages + strong titles + timeline connectivity.
Personal foundation
The early Internet story is not just tech—it’s people, family, and the moments that made information matter.