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(KPL/TOKYO) Users of the Line messaging app topped 100 million at the end of last year in Japan, the operator said, with the service now offering a variety of communication platforms for individuals nearly 15 years after its launch in the wake of the 2011 mega earthquake.
LY Corp. Corporate Officer Daisuke Asai speaks in an interview in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026. (Kyodo)
The smartphone app was released in June 2011 by a predecessor of operator LY Corp., shortly after the magnitude-9.0 quake that devastated northeastern Japan three months earlier. The disaster had prevented phone calls from getting through, and the demand for simple online communication was projected to grow.
The service originally only offered text messages, but that changed dramatically in October 2011 with the introduction of digital stickers featuring illustrations or images that users could use to express emotions.
The feature helps users to convey their emotions, Corporate Officer Daisuke Asai told Kyodo News in late January, adding that the app likely spread due to the faster pace of exchanges compared to emails.
The service also has 1.3 million official accounts run by companies and local governments and the operator is working to connect individuals with businesses via the app, such as enabling users to make restaurant reservations.
The population of Japan is some 120 million.
"There is still room for growth in business use," Asai said. "We'd like to make daily life more convenient, including shopping and communicating with local governments."
Meanwhile, the operator faces the challenges of protecting user privacy and preventing the app from being used for crimes such as fraud.
"We are collaborating with police and have established a system to immediately issue alerts (within the app) whenever new fraud schemes are identified," Asai said, adding the company is also prioritizing investment in data protection.
KPL
