The Smileys(Emoticons) are used very often in the sentences of e-mails. They started in USA where the internet had also started of course. In Japan, the Smileys(Emoticons) grew in different manner from U.S.A. Now, there are several kinds of them.

Apparently, Japanese Smileys(Emoticons) are read vertically whilewestern Smileys(Emoticons) are read hosizontally. And Japanese Smileys have more variation than eastern ons. I think the reason is that while American(alphabet) letters in computer are 1 byte, Japanese letters in computer are 2 bytes, so Japanese letters can have more characters. And also, Japanese sentences contain Chinese characters which are phonograms, so it is easier to express and recognize something graphic with letters for Japanese people.

ex)
1byte letters: ABCDabcd,.^=123456?+-*/=[]`@.......

Second reason seems to that Japanese comics(manga) have many ways of express their feelings and situations by certain lines or graphics and Japanese do the same thing when they create smileys. So, a large number of Japanese Smileys(Emoticons) are influenced by comics.

I will introduce you to some of the basic Japanese Smileys(Emoticons), which is used in e-mails very often in Japan. You can try them as I explain them. As most people don't see some of Smileys because they contain Japanese font characteres, I have used images rather than the characters themselves. If you want to use them in your e-mail, simply copy and paste them!
=>[Jump to the page:"List of the japanese Smileys(Emoticons) only with 1 byte letters"]

Visitors whose language is in 2 bytes (like Chinese, korean, Thai, Russia....) have Smileys(Emoticons) in your own language, then please send them to me as I'd like to know Smileys in other languages. Thank you.