Remember when “poking” your friends on Facebook was a trendy thing to do? I feel old now just by recalling how my schoolmates and I could spend the entire evening “poking” each other online, refreshing the browser page every few seconds in attempt to return a “poke” at the fastest timing possible. Well, the younger generation who only got on Facebook in the recent year or two probably wouldn’t have an idea what I’m talking about since the trend has died down.
But you know how trends are revived every once in a while? “Poking” is now back with a new force, this time on the globally popular free messaging mobile app, LINE. Sorry to dash your hopes if you were looking forward to giving your LINE friends a cyber poke because LINE users are “poking” their favorite (or least favorite) anime characters and celebrities instead!
There are various free messaging applications for smartphone users, and among the gazillion choices out there, LINE is wildly popular in Japan and extending its reach to users worldwide at a rapid pace, due to the wide variety of games and supporting apps available on the platform. One of the most popular features of LINE has to be the myriad of expressive stickers and emoticons available for use with the chat function.
Anime and manga fans in Japan have recently found a way to “touch” their favorite 2D characters through the messaging app. The magic lies in a certain sticon that can be found in the service and downloaded for free.
▼ You could choose to poke a real person instead.
▼ Or… poke a certain crying Japanese politician.
Here’s how to do it:
1) Open a chat window.
2) Go to settings and set the wallpaper to an image of your choice.
3) Open the sticon panel by tapping on the icon to the left of the text box.
4) Download (if you haven’t already) the set that is represented by a pink-haired girl.
5) Send the sticon as a message and poke away!!
▼The poking finger sticon can be found in the set.
▼ This anime fan (yours truly) couldn’t resist trying it out on her all-time favorite character.
Image: RocketNews24
Who are you gonna poke? Share your “poking” masterpieces in the comments section below!
Source: Zhaizhai News
Images: Game Over, Twitter
Studio Ghibli adds The Boy and the Heron stamps to Line messaging app in Japan
LINE Messenger pleases Nintendo fans with new Kirby, 8-bit Pokémon backgrounds
Line messaging app adding unsend function to save us from our embarrassing selves
Cardcaptor Sakura LINE theme available now!
Prefect Your Navy Salute with Salute Trainer App, Comes with Engrish Instructions!
Drink vending machines disappearing in Japan as number drops to lowest in 30 years
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Howl’s Moving Castle’s scene-stealing dog is here to clean your home as a plushie mop
Chinese man holds in vomit, esophagus explodes
A visit to the oldest Yoshinoya chain in Japan for one last beef bowl before it closes for good
Fried sandwiches arrive in Tokyo, become hot topic on social media
Viral Japanese cheesecake from Osaka has a lesser known rival called Aunt Wanda
Sanrio changes Hello Kitty lead designer for first time in 46 years
Foreign man arrested for walking on Shinkansen tracks, claims he was on the run from yakuza
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japanese self-pleasuring aid Tenga releases series of video chat backgrounds
Japanese Line users unleash their inner troll after popular messaging app gets hacked
Frozen’s Anna is pregnant and needs a C-section…but don’t worry, there’s an app for that
Friending Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party will get you free Shinzo Abe stamps for Line messenger
This Thai ad for popular chat application “Line” will break your heart 【Video】
“3 bottles available” – Life’s Good when you can mail your fridge to ask if there’s any beer left
New Pokémon Line app message stamps raise money for children in Japan’s disaster-struck regions
Is it acceptable to break up via instant message? Japanese men and women weigh in
Our reporter makes himself too sexy for his face with Line Camera’s “beauty” function
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time leaps into Line messaging app as an awesome anime stamp set
Studio Ghibli releases new batch of Line app anime stamps, this time for Kiki’s Delivery Service!
LINE sticker creator Kanahei’s cute characters come to life in theme cafe
One Piece creator waives copyright for LINE stamps, allows fans to post, profit from fan art
Retro Pokémon stamps with sound effects released for instant messaging app Line!
Host clubs go digital in the wake of business closures with live-streaming app toU