On July 15, it was revealed that the Japanese social networking application POPOPO would cease operations on September 17, just six months following its debut. The company cited “a thorough evaluation of the business landscape and optimization opportunities” as the reasoning behind this decision.
POPOPO, labeled as the “final human-crafted social network in the age of AI,” gained attention due to its enigmatic concept and significant celebrity endorsements. Notably, Hiroyuki Nishimura, the founder of the 2channel message board and current proprietor of 4chan, Hideaki Anno, the director of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Dwango founder Nobuo Kawakami, and musician GACKT, among other media figures, were appointed as directors of the firm responsible for POPOPO, and played roles in its development and promotion.
The platform was envisioned as a complimentary “metaverse” video calling application enabling users to converse via virtual avatars, eliminating the need for a camera or virtual reality headset. The avatars’ movements are automatically synchronized with the dialogue, and in place of a conventional “face-to-face” setup, POPOPO situates your digital characters within an active cinematic backdrop with alternating camera angles and viewpoints.
POPOPO was designed for both personal interactions, such as discussions among friends and family, and for live broadcasts and streaming. Based on its initial promotional strategy, it appears the creators aimed to establish it as a medium where influencers, idols, and celebrities could engage directly with their followers.
Although POPOPO initially generated substantial interest—particularly given its eclectic roster of celebrity supporters—the enthusiasm waned shortly after its launch.
In a recent update on X, Kawakami, who also served as the app’s producer, reflected on POPOPO’s closure. While he remained optimistic about its concept as a “novel approach to human interaction,” the team ultimately fell short of integrating it into the everyday routines of contemporary users. “It’s genuinely remarkable how overwhelmingly we failed,” he admitted.
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