.MOE Domain Extension

Why choose a .MOE domain?

Best said plainly: this one is not for everybody. “Moe” (萌え) is a term from Japanese animation fandom, hard to translate — it names the affectionate attachment felt towards a character. The extension is run from Tokyo, and it is the only one in our catalogue that is. If you do not recognise the word, it is probably not for you; if you do, it almost certainly is.

The Japanese word

A precise term, used by a precise audience. Its strength is exactly that not everybody understands it: it signals belonging.

The fan community

Forums, subtitling groups, databases, collaborative wikis. A world that has organised itself for decades, largely on volunteer effort.

The creator

Illustration, comics, fan dubbing, independent animation. An address that places your work in the right world immediately.

The event

Conventions, screenings, artist alleys, costume contests. An annual fixture whose site mostly lives in the six weeks before it.

The technical project

Translation tools, players, catalogues, chat bots. The extension is widely used by open-source projects from this world.

What it actually changes

• It is deliberately narrow. Not a flaw to be fixed: a word only your audience understands is a signal of belonging.
• Its registry is Japanese. Interlink, in Tokyo: the only extension in our catalogue run from Japan.
• No registration restrictions. No connection to the community to demonstrate to the registrar.
• It is very short. Three letters, which stays rare and matters on a social account.