obvi not japanese but ive seen videos in the past on youtube of certain japanese subcultures trying to emulate certain aspects of american subcultures like this: https://youtu.be/r8bMLcCxxAA?si=6WAsOVBY8YTU8yZz
ah this video is prob a bit better too: https://youtu.be/u1LqF03UUdc?si=q8KqYmz9X18laKiK
To be honest with you, I have no idea. It looks like the .com instance (the Canadian one) went free in 2006, but I have no idea when the .co.uk instance went free. And honestly I have no idea how long it takes Foddy (the guy who runs the .co.uk instance) to respond to emails, so your best bet might be to ask one of the Wizzes for a hand with that.
I'll be sure to do that sometime cuz now I'm very curious. I wonder if the rise in activity in 2012 was due to that...