5channel, origin of 4chan, in danger of extinction after being backstabbed by its dedicated browser

JaneStyle, the largest “dedicated browser” for viewing the Japanese anonymous bulletin board 5channel via PC and mobile, cut ties with 5channel on July 10, turning into a dedicated browser for a new clone-like anonymous bulletin board called Talk. Users are calling the event the “Jane uprising” or “Jane coup.”

Created by Japan-based developer Jane, JaneStyle had been compatible with 5channel since 2017 and had been the main browser used by users to access 5channel boards. On July 10, the developers released an unannounced update for the PC version of JaneStyle, and with this update the browser’s support for 5channel has been discontinued.

2ch(5ch)専ブラと言えばJaneStyle！というイメージを持っているオタクは数多しと思いますが、本日をもちましてJaneStyleは5ch対応を打ち切ってTalkとかいうよく分からん5chクローラーサイト専ブラに生まれ変わってしまいました！ pic.twitter.com/cLQGwPQJPq
— はやぶさマン (@big_falco) July 10, 2023

Tweet translation: JaneStyle is probably the first thing that comes to mind to many otaku when they hear the words “2channel (5channel) dedicated browser,” but as of today, JaneStyle has been reborn into a dedicated browser for a 5channel crawler site called Talk or whatever.

According to a report by Windows Forest, with the termination of 5ch.net support for JaneStyle, the API key that was being provided by Jane appears to be no longer available, and other 5channel browsers that were using the API key provided by Jane also seem to be unable to connect to 5ch.net.

5ch問題まとめ

1　janestyleがAPIサーバーを用意してほかのブラウザを締め出す
2　ほかのブラウザはjanestyle開発者にAPIキーをもらうしかなくなる
3　janestyle（API）が唐突に5chとの接続を切り怪しいクローンサイトに誘導
4　APIサーバー自体が機能していないのですべて接続できなくなる（いまここ
— Vulpes lagopus (@snowwhitefox) July 10, 2023

Tweet translation: A summary of the 5channel problem
1. JaneStyle provides an API server to keep other browsers at bay
2. Other browsers have no choice but to acquire the API key from JaneStyle’s developers
3. JaneStyle (API) abruptly cuts support for 5channel and redirects to a suspicious clone site
4. The API server itself isn’t functioning so no browser can connect

Though 5channel itself continues to operate and can be accessed via web browser, according to a report by ITmedia, the number of users has plummeted due to the largest point of access being disconnected. As for the new site called Talk, threads from 5channel have apparently been cloned into the new bulletin board, but most of them have no activity.

There has yet to be a statement from JaneStyle’s developers on the topic.