Hotaru Channel is a simple image-based bulletin board where anyone can post comments and share images. Hotaru Channel's collaborative-community format was inspired by one of the most popular forums in Japan, Futaba Channel. Users do not need to register an account before participating in the community.

In order to access the full site, you must first read and agree to the terms of the disclaimer. To access the disclaimer simply click any board and a dialogue will appear. Your response will be cookied so you'll only need to do this once (providing you don't clear your cache/cookies afterwards). If you wish to browse the site using frames, visit /frames.

Users are encouraged to participate actively in our community, but only after they have familiarized themselves with the rules and this FAQ. Breaking the rules may result in post deletion, a temporary ban, or in some cases, permanent banishment. Understand the rules before you begin posting!

To post as "Anonymous", simply do not fill in the [Name] field when submitting content. Information such as your personal IP address is viewable only to the administrators, and is not made publicly available.

No user registration process is available. If you're worried about somebody impersonating you, consider using a tripcode to help validate your identity.

Depending on this site's configuration, to start a new thread, you might need to upload an image. Hotaru Channel is primarily an imageboard after all! When replying to an already existing thread, no attachment is required.

Yes. To reply to a thread with an image of your own, click the [Reply] link and fill in the post box as you normally would, making sure to specify an image for attachment.

To quote a portion of text, simply place a pointer (">") in front of the text you wish to highlight (ex. ">This is a quote"). To link to and highlight an entire post, place two pointers in front of its unique post number (ex. ">>210981"). Cross-linking to another Hotaru Channel board is also possible, by placing three pointers before a board letter, followed by a post number (ex. ">>>/x/1208196").

If you're using our inline extension, simply click the post number you'd like to reference and it will bring up a Quick Reply window for you to write your response in. Highlighting text and then clicking the post number will quote the selected text.

Only certain boards allow you to mask plot-spoiling content. To mark your image as a spoiler, check the [x Spoiler Image?] box before submission. Spoilerizing text makes it unreadable to others until they mouse over it. To spoilerize a comment, place [spoiler] tags around the text you wish to hide (ex. "[spoiler]SPIKE DIES![/spoiler]").

Tripcodes can help verify a user's identity to others, and are a type of pseudo-registration. To use a normal tripcode, place a hash mark ("#") followed by a word or short phrase after what you've entered into the [Name] field (ex. "User#password"). Upon submission, the server will generate the hash unique to that particular word or phrase. The previous example would display "User !ozOtJW9BFA" after being posted.

Important note: A tripcode is generated only using the text entered after the hash mark. Your entered name, IP address, cookie information, etc. do not affect the output. Normal tripcodes are not secure, and can be cracked with relative ease. For a more secure solution, see secure tripcodes.

A secure tripcode can be generated by placing two hash marks in the [Name] field, as opposed to one as with a normal tripcode (ex. "User##password"). Secure tripcodes use a secret key file on the server to help obscure their password. The previous example would display "User !!rEkSWzi2+mz" after being posted.

A capcode is a way of verifying someone as a Hotaru Channel team member. Normal users do not have the ability to post using a capcode. A moderator capcode will display "## Mod " after their name. Similarly, the administrator capcode displays "## Admin ". Janitors do not receive a capcode.

Note: Icons will always appear alongside a capcode, and will display a tooltip that says "This user is a/the Hotaru Channel Moderator/Administrator" upon mousing over them. If there is no icon/tooltip, the poster is an impersonator.

Entering "sage" (by itself) into the [Options] field while replying will cause the thread not to bump to the top of the page.

To return to the board index after posting, enter "nonoko" into the [Options] field.

Yes, enter "nonokosage" into the [Options] field.

Reporting posts for review is extremely encouraged, as it helps us remove rule breaking and/or illegal content faster. To file a report, click the "▶" button to the right of the post number to expand the post menu, and then select the "Report post" option. A confirmation dialogue will pop up and ask if the post you are reporting is a rule violation, spam, or if it contains illegal material. Be sure to mark this appropriately! Fill out the captcha, and then click on the Submit button.

Important note: Submitting intentionally false reports may result in a ban.

When you submit a post, a password cookie is automatically set that will allow you to delete your post should you choose to. As long as your browser retains this cookie, you will be able to delete posts made using it. To delete your post(s), check the box in the upper lefthand corner of the specific post(s) you wish to remove, and scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the [Delete] button on the right. Checking the [x File Only] box will cause only the image to be deleted, leaving the comment untouched. Note that some boards and threads (ex. stickies) do not allow a user to delete their posts.

All threads have a set bump limit (varies board to board). When this limit is reached, a thread will no longer "bump" to the top of the board, causing the thread to descend through the pages until it is bumped off of the last page and pruned. This method of post-limiting, while sometimes inconvenient, assures that content is kept fresh on the boards.

"Work safe" is defined as "content that is safe for viewing in the average working environment." Boards that default to the Yotsuba B or Burichan (blue) theme are to be considered work safe. Posting content that is not suitable for this environment may result in a ban. The goal behind enforcing this rule is to keep the cleaner sections of the site accessible to those in restricted viewing situations.

Threads expire and are pruned by Hotaru Channel's software at a relatively high rate. Most times, the post was probably pruned automatically, however in some cases it may have been removed by a moderator or janitor. We ask that users refrain from reposting material that they believe to have been deleted by the moderators.

No. Content that has expired is removed from our servers. Please do not contact us requesting content that has been pruned, for it is impossible for us to assist you.

No. Unless a user elects to include an e-mail address or other contact information in their post, there is no way to contact that user privately. More details regarding our storage of personal information can be found here.

"Anonymous" is the name assigned to a poster who does not enter text in to the [Name] field.

A meme is basically an idea that is easily transferable from one mind to another. Think "catchphrases." Memes are created when a large group of users come to identify with a particular image or slogan. Their continued [mis]use will bring about the destruction of the universe.

Our definition of "positive contribution" is the submission of substantial, helpful, friendly, and humorous posts to the boards, along with the uploading of quality images and files. We feel that positive contribution should be treated as a way of donating to Hotaru Channel without actually having to fork over cash.

Contribution is important because it is what drives this website. If we didn't have a dedicated pool of users who frequently contribute, we'd be yet another stagnant run of the mill forum. But we aren't. By having an increasing number of diverse and quality contributors, Hotaru Channel becomes more unique, interesting, and enjoyable to use.

It's really quite easy. If you have something to add to a topic: reply. If you have an interesting, high quality, neat, rare, etc. picture: upload it! Share your mind and image collections with us. Don't just leech! Give back to the community which you take from. It's a simple and effective way to grow the site. Before contributing, make sure you're acquainted with the rules.

"Stickied" threads are posts that are stuck (hence "sticky/stickied") to the top of a board's index page. A stickied thread is denoted by a small thumbtack icon placed next to its post number. Threads can only be stuck by moderators, and cannot be saged or otherwise unstuck by users. Trolling, sage-bombing, or reporting a sticky may result in a ban.

The blotter provides a short brief of recent site developments. A full list of blotter updates is available here.

Hotaru Channel maintains a number of Atom & RSS feeds, which are located at the following URLs:

Image Boards: /board/index.rss (RSS)
Hotaru Channel Blotter: Atom

Hotaru Channel also has a read-only JSON API.

Yes! Our browser extension is built right into the site. To use it, simply click [Settings] in the upper or lower right-hand corner of your screen.

Trial boards are added every now and then to broaden the scope of the website. We open new trial boards as resources permit, based on requests from the userbase. If a board does not perform well, it is removed to make way for others. A board's trial status is denoted by its name appearing italicized on the navigation menu.

CAPTCHA is an effective means to mitigate automated spam and ensure a submission is coming from a real person.

CAPTCHA was implemented on the imageboards to deal with a deluge of automated spam some years ago. It has proven effective in reducing the amount of automated spam that appears on the site.

CAPTCHA is not 100% foolproof. Many spammers will pre-fill CAPTCHAs or pay CAPTCHA solving teams (actual people to sit around and fill out challenges) to spam manually. Spam that is not caught by CAPTCHA should be reported and it will be removed by the moderation team.

Maybe someday. Despite its shortcomings, it is extremely effective at reducing automated spam and without it the site would be awash with spam.

Moderators may post without typing a CAPTCHA verification.

Here are four common solutions to problems users might experience:

1. Enable first & third party cookies.
2. Enable JavaScript.
3. Don't block HTTP referers.
4. Whitelist all of our domains.

If Hotaru Channel's servers detect that you have JavaScript and cookies enabled, but not HTTP referers, you will receive the following error when attempting to post:

"Detected JavaScript + cookies + blocked referer. Your post looks like spam this way, so either enable referers or disable JavaScript and cookies."

Follow the instructions given and either enable HTTP referers, or disable JavaScript and cookies. Read above for more ideas.

In addition, Hotaru Channel maintains a list of blocked URLs and keywords that may result in your post being rejected.

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(SITE OWNER WILL HAVE TO FILL THIS IN)

(SITE OWNER WILL HAVE TO FILL THIS IN) is the administrator of Hotaru Channel.

Contact information can be found on our Contact page.

(SITE OWNER WILL HAVE TO FILL THIS IN)

Moderators are individuals selected to perform general site maintenance. They may delete posts globally, ban users, sticky and close threads, etc.

"Janitors" or "jannies" are a class between "end user" and "moderator." They are given access to the report system and may delete posts on their assigned board(s), as well as submit ban requests. Janitors are selected via an application, orientation, and testing process.
>he's a janitor
>on the internet
>on an anime imageboard
>he does it for free
>he takes his "job" very seriously
>he does it because it is the only amount of power & control he will ever have in his pathetic life
>he deletes threads he doesn't like because whenever he gets upset he has an asthma attack
>he deletes threads he doesn't like because they interfere with the large backlog of little girl chinese cartoons he still has to watch
>he will never have a real job
>he will never move out of his parent's house
>he will never be at a healthy weight
>he will never know how to cook anything besides a hot pocket
>he will never have a girlfriend
>he will never have any friends

...Why would you? There is no public record of deletion, and since threads are frequently pruned, there is no way of knowing which have been removed by the moderation team. The "(USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)" message is optional and only used under certain circumstances, so it's not a good indication of how frequently users are being banned. Usually when a user is banned, their posts are removed because they're in violation of the rules! Quite simply, there is no way for an end user to accurately judge the amount of moderation taking place at any given point in time. Rest assured though; the moderators and janitors are always working hard to do their best and keep the boards free of rule breaking content.

If you're banned you will be redirected to https://hotaru.ninny.win/banned.php when trying to post on the board(s) you're banned from. If you're getting 403 or 404 errors, this doesn't necessarily mean you're banned.

Yes. Use the embedded appeal tool on the banned page to appeal your ban. Read the entire banned page carefully before disputing your ban. Note that some bans require you sit out for a few days before allowing you to appeal the ban. If you believe an error has been made, or you are being mistakenly affected by a ban meant for somebody else, contact a moderator. Moderators are available to assist users with bans and technical issues on the website. PM a moderator with all relevant information, including your IP address if banned.

Users are temporarily blocked from posting when there is a pending ban request placed on their IP. This block lasts 15 minutes from the time a janitor submits a ban request, and is removed immediately if the request is denied by a moderator. If the request is approved, a regular ban is applied.

Hotaru Channel runs an improved version of 4chan's proprietary imageboard software Yotsuba, whose source code was leaked in April 2025, called OpenYotsuba.

OpenYotsuba includes GeoLite2 data created by MaxMind, available from maxmind.com.

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Hotaru Channel collects and stores user information for postings. Once a post is pruned or deleted, it is removed from our web server. We value the privacy of our users, and will not make private information such as IP addresses available to others, except to comply with court orders or to cooperate with law enforcement agencies when appropriate.

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$CASH MONEY$, and of course our talented team of volunteers!

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(SITE OWNER WILL HAVE TO FILL THIS IN)