Yahoo Japan Corporation has reorganized to LY Corporation on October 1, 2023. Please click here to visit the corporate website of LY Corporation.
The information contained in this page is as of September 30, 2023.

Corporate History

  • April 1996
    • Launch of Yahoo! JAPAN Yahoo! JAPAN was launched as the Internet’s first Japanese-language search engine, providing Japanese-language website database and directory tree data search as well as keyword search services.
  • 1996
    • Yahoo! Weather service launched
    • Yahoo! News service launched
  • 1997
    • Listed on the JASDAQ market
  • 1999
    • Yahoo! Mail service launched
    • Yahoo! Shopping service launched
    • Yahoo! Auctions (subsequently renamed YAHUOKU!) service launched
  • 2000
    • Total Yahoo! JAPAN daily page views surpass 100 million
  • 2001
    • Launch of Yahoo! BB service The launch of Yahoo! BB high-speed Internet connection service, offering unlimited access for just ¥2,280 per month, fueled the proliferation of Internet connectivity throughout Japan, setting the stage for enormous growth in Internet usage.
  • 2002
    • Paid search advertising service launched
  • 2003
    • Listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
  • 2004
    • Total Yahoo! JAPAN daily page views surpass 1 billion
  • 2008
    • Renewal of Yahoo! JAPAN PC version top page In our first complete renewal of Yahoo! JAPAN’s top page since the inaugural 1996 launch, we added a personals service as well as entertainment and other lifestyle-related information services in an effort to become a more comprehensive and broadly appealing destination for Internet users.
    • iPhone optimization of Yahoo! JAPAN services After SoftBank began exclusive sales in Japan of Apple’s iPhone 3G model, we began the process of optimizing all Yahoo! JAPAN services for easy iPhone 3G access. To optimize the user interface, we created iPhone 3G start-up screen icons corresponding to 65 Yahoo! Japan service top pages.
  • 2012
    • Implementation of new management structure In response to rapid smartphone proliferation and related changes in the Internet usage environment, we implemented a new management structure and rejuvenated the management team, the first such move since the Company’s establishment in 1996.
    • LOHACO service launched
  • 2013
    • Implementation of new e-commerce strategy In our Yahoo! Shopping service, by eliminating monthly store tenant fees and system-use fees we set in motion the shopping business’s transition from a fee-based to an advertising-based revenue model. In our YAHUOKU! auction service, we loosened bidding restrictions to entice more buyers and also eliminated monthly store tenant fees and auction listing fees to attract more sellers.
  • 2015
    • Renewal of Yahoo! JAPAN smartphone version top page In our renewal of the Yahoo! JAPAN smartphone version top page, we introduced a vertical scrolling timeline design that not only enhances the convenience of contents viewing on small-screen smartphones but also facilitates the distribution of new in-feed type advertising.
    • Adoption of new corporate governance structure In keeping with Japan’s new corporate governance code in effect from June 2015, the Company adopted a new corporate governance structure based on an Audit and Supervisory Committee in order to strengthen the governance framework and facilitate quick and decisive decision-making. At the same time, we appointed two independent outside directors with the goal of promoting transparent and fair decision-making, as well as clearly separated the monitoring function of the Board of Directors from the business execution function of corporate officers.
    • ASKUL Corporation made a consolidated subsidiary
  • 2019
    • Transition to a holding company structure through a company split on October 1, 2019. Former Yahoo Japan Corporation changed its trade name to Z Holdings Corporation. Services conducted by former Yahoo Japan Corporation was succeeded to the new Yahoo Japan Corporation, a subsidiary of Z Holdings Corporation.

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