Timeline Summary (1991–2026)

IAC Online BBS begins. Early publishing + searchable information in a pre-web workflow.

Metabook era. Searchable content distributed on floppy disks; offline “search as product.”

Mass distribution moment. A “Let’s Internet” desktop advertisement reaches ~300,000 IBM Aptiva PCs (as described by the project).

PPP transition. Internet access partnerships expand from BBS workflows toward ISP-era connectivity.

Web era accelerates. Corporate websites and media+production strategies emerge in Japan.

Blacklist shock. Business relationships tighten; rapid downsizing and a rebuild chapter begins.

Jmail grows. Free email scales under constraints; resilience story continues.

Exit. Business sold; debts paid; Japan chapter closes—temporarily.

Domains reacquired. Later operational failure ends the service era; domains remain as assets.

AI restart. Japan.co.jp rebuilt as a living archive and narrative history meant for repeat visits.