>>11733042ch is very popular in Japan. The Japanese are weird. They resent change to websites. If you visit
yahoo.co.jp (their primary search engine), you'll notice that it's .. old looking. this isn't because they ignore the site. the japanese just hate modern standards.
2ch is also run by Jim Watkins who, depending on who you ask, obtained it from Hiroyuki after he reneged on bills and abandoned the site, or stole it from him. the two are still embroiled in legal battles to this day.