For a while now I’ve been collecting references to old Japanese pixel/dot art software. My main sources of information are the treasure trove of scanned magazines on Internet Archive, Twitter archives, YouTube videos, Yahoo! Japan Auctions listings, and Google search. I’ve been keeping this list for a while, and the release of 16bit Sensation: Another Layer and its inclusion of Multi Paint System made me realise I should make the list public.
A long term goal would be to find files for each of these so they can be actively used and documented more fully. But that might never happen if it’s left to just me…so feel free to get involved!
Selected columns from the big list
The table below is a snapshot of selected columns of a Google Sheet that I’m updating over time. The full spreadsheet contains links to downloads, videos, web pages, magazine mentions, and many other references. So be sure to check, bookmark or subscribe to that link for the very latest information. Since January 2024 I’ve been adding some non-Japanese software that was “big in Japan”.
Regarding the empty cells: software missing a Japanese name was mostly referred to only by an English title. The rest of the missing information is TBC.
ドット絵（ドットえ）作成に使えるビンテージ日本語ソフトの一覧です。
Total entries: 238
| Platform | English | Japanese | Year | Developer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FM-7, X1 | Art Creator | 1984 | MDBA | |
| FM-7/8 | Graphic Editor | 1983 | Hiroshi Ichikawa | |
| FM-7/8 | Super Graphic Editor | スーパーグラフィック エディター | 1983 | T&E SOFT |
| FM-77 | FM Graphic Editor | 1986 | Fujitsu | |
| FM-R50/60 | Z’s STAFF Kid FP | 1988 | Zeit | |
| FM-R60/70 | Z’s STAFF Kid FP | 1990 | Zeit | |
| FM-Towns | ARTemis | 1993 | Ryosuke Matsuuchi | |
| FM-Towns | DRAW BOARD2 | 1993 | Souji Yamakawa | |
| FM-Towns | G-Pen32K | 1995 | rice | |
| FM-Towns | many COLORS | 1993 | Amorphous | |
| FM-Towns | many COLORS II | 1995 | Amorphous | |
| FM-Towns | Meta Paint 2 | メタペイント2 | 1992 | Oizumi Shigeru |
| FM-Towns | New Transfer | ニュートランスファー | 1992 | Hiroshi Toda |
| FM-Towns | Oops, anime-kun | おっとアニメ君 | 1989 | Nihon Mi-Com Hanbai |
| FM-Towns | Otome / Towns Paint System | 乙女座 | 1993 | Yabara |
| FM-Towns | Power Paint | パワーペインター | 1991 | Wave Train |
| FM-Towns | Towns PAINT | 1989 | Fujitsu | |
| FM-Towns | TownsFullcolor | 1993 | Fujitsu | |
| FM-Towns | Z’s STAFF PRO-TOWNS | 1991 | Zeit | |
| Mac OS X | DotEditerSE | 2016 | tokyoconsaruai | |
| Mac OS X | DotShot X | 2007 | Studio Shin | |
| Mac OS X | FireAlpaca | 2011 | FireAlpaca | |
| Mac OS X | PikoPixel | 2013 | Twilight Edge Software | |
| Mac OS X | PoCo | 2005 | KAENRYUU Koutoku | |
| Macintosh | BluePaint | 2001 | Shungo Onozuka | |
| Macintosh | DotShot | 1998 | Studio Shin | |
| Macintosh | Leo paint | 1997 | Reona Takahashi | |
| Macintosh | SketchBook 68K | 2000 | Shibutaro Kimura | |
| Macintosh | Solid Paint | 1996 | Masatoshi Utashiro | |
| Macintosh | WishDraw | 1998 | Motoo Tanaka | |
| MPC-X | MPC-X Lightpen Graphics | 1984 | Sanyo | |
| MSX | Art Paper | アートペーパー | 1986 | Mitsubishi |
| MSX | (Graphic Editor) Sha Ga Raku | 写・画・楽 | 1988 | Victor |
| MSX | CHEESE | 1984 | NEOS | |
| MSX | CHEESE 2 | 1985 | NEOS | |
| MSX | Dot Designers Club | ＤＤ倶楽部 | 1989 | T&E SOFT |
| MSX | GABAN | がばん | 1988 | Micronet |
| MSX | GARAKUTA | 画楽多 | 1988 | Southern Create |
| MSX | Graph Saurus 1 | グラフサウルス | 1989 | BIT2 |
| MSX | Graph Saurus 2 | グラフサウルス | 1991 | BIT2 |
| MSX | Graph Saurus 2.1 | グラフサウルス | 1993 | BIT2 |
| MSX | Graphic Artist | グラフィックアーティスト | 1985 | YAMAHA |
| MSX | Graphic Editor | グラフィックエディター | 1984 | HAL Laboratory |
| MSX | Graphic Editor ANGLE | グラフィック エディタ アングル | 1985 | Hiroshi Ichikawa |
| MSX | Graphic Editor XV | グラフィックエディター | 1988 | HAL Laboratory? |
| MSX | Graphic Master Lab | グラフィックマスターラボ | 1985 | HAL Laboratory |
| MSX | JOY GRAPH | ジョイグラフ | 1983 | Victor |
| MSX | Tiny Joygraph | 1985 | Victor | |
| MSX | Pixel 2 | ピクセル２ | 1985 | T&E SOFT |
| MSX | Pixel 3 | ピクセル３ | 1988 | T&E SOFT |
| MSX | UniPaint | ユニペイント | 1986 | Matsushita |
| MSX | Video Graphics | ビデオグラフィックス | 1986 | Matsushita |
| MSX, WAVY | Light Pen Graphics | 1984 | Sanyo | |
| MZ-2500 | G-EDIT2500 | グラフィックエディタ2500 | 1987 | Data West |
| MZ-2500 | ILLUST BOX | 1987 | Rhodes | |
| MZ-2500 | Palette | ぱれっと | 1987 | Dynaware |
| MZ-2500 | Quick MZ Paint | 1987 | Minoru Morinaka | |
| MZ-2500 | Super Paint | 1987 | S.B.C Software | |
| Newton | HexPaint | 1997 | HexDump | |
| Newton | NewtPaint | 1995 | Glen Raphael | |
| OS/2 | QueenCy | 2000 | masami | |
| Palm | CLIE Paint | 2001 | Sony | |
| Palm | MoePaint | 2004 | Toshiyuki Hayashi | |
| Palm | PenPenCol | 2001 | Shigeyuki Seko | |
| Palm | PenPenW | 2005 | Shigeyuki Seko | |
| Palm | PixMarker | 2001 | wernyv | |
| Palm | Sphere the PAINTER | 2001 | Katsunori Sakuragi | |
| Palm | yapp | 2000 | Ines | |
| PC-100 | Airbrush | エアーブラシ | 1984 | ASCII |
| PC-6001 | Picture Editor | ピクチャーエディタ | 1983 | ASCII |
| PC-88 | Adventure Maker mk2 | アドベンチャーツクールmkII | 1987 | T.Ueno |
| PC-88 | ART MASTER 88 | 1985 | SystemSoft | |
| PC-88 | da Vinci ~Super Graphic Tool~ | ダヴィンチ | 1985 | POPCOM |
| PC-88 | Emi | 絵美 | 1990 | MIINA |
| PC-88 | HR-PAINT3 | 1990 | ||
| PC-88 | Ink Pot M | 1987 | H.Komatsu | |
| PC-88 | LALF ~Hyper Graphic Tool~ | 1989 | Technopolis | |
| PC-88 | LUNA | 1991 | MEW | |
| PC-88 | Magic Paint 88 v2.0 | マジックペイント88 | 1988 | Atsushi Oshima |
| PC-88 | Magic Paint 88 v3.0 | マジックペイント88 | 1988 | Atsushi Oshima |
| PC-88 | Magic Paint 98 | マジックペイント98 | 1990 | Atsushi Oshima |
| PC-88 | Magic Paint VA | マジックペイントVA | 1988 | Atsushi Oshima |
| PC-88 | nedi3.bin | 1987 | TA(O) | |
| PC-88 | Yukara art | ユーカラart | 1987 | Tokai Create |
| PC-88 | Z’s STAFF Kid VA | 1987 | Zeit | |
| PC-88 | Z’s STAFF Kid88 | 1987 | Zeit | |
| PC-88, X1 | Ink Pot | 1985 | H.Komatsu | |
| PC-98 | 6 Coloured Pencils | 6色鉛筆 | 1993 | tsutosan |
| PC-98 | Actor98 | アクター98 | 1990 | Soft Studio Panther |
| PC-98 | Akane | あかね | 1992 | Miruhi Takahara |
| PC-98 | Art Frontier | アートフロンティア | 1991 | Bijutech |
| PC-98 | ArtCore (Art/V?) | 1992 | SystemSoft | |
| PC-98 | Assist Art | アシストアート | 1991 | Assist Co., Ltd. |
| PC-98 | Ayako | 彩子 | 1988 | Art Function |
| PC-98 | CANDY | 1984 | ASCII | |
| PC-98 | CANDY2 | 1985 | ASCII | |
| PC-98 | Doodle Book / Rakugaki-chō | 落書き帳 | 1993 | Toshiya Hayashi |
| PC-98 | DynaPix V | ダイナビックスV | 1988 | Dynaware |
| PC-98 | ESQUISSE | 電子水彩エスキース | 1989 | SAPIENCE |
| PC-98 | Funny | 1984 | Zeit | |
| PC-98 | Garakuta98 | 画楽多98 | 1990 | Southern Create |
| PC-98 | GIOTTO | 1986 | Art Function | |
| PC-98 | GRAPHIC HENSHIN | ぐらひっく へんしん | 1998 | Taro Namae |
| PC-98 | GREEN | 1993 | Yoshito Takemura | |
| PC-98 | GREM | 1993 | Yoshito Takemura | |
| PC-98 | Hyper Ayako | HYPER 彩子 | 1989 | Art Function / Digital Arts |
| PC-98 | JEDAI | 1994 | D.O. CORP | |
| PC-98 | Kureyon-chan | くれよん ちゃん | 1994 | Fusao Saito |
| PC-98 | Maguro/Tuna Paint System | 鮪ペイントシステム | 1991 | Woody_RINN |
| PC-98 | Mapping Paint | 写像ペイント | 1990 | CAST |
| PC-98 | Marupa | まるぱ | 1993 | Ichikawa Soft Labratory |
| PC-98 | MEDI-98 / nedi3 | 1990 | NOZUMU | |
| PC-98 | Monopen | ものぺん | 1995 | OEAO |
| PC-98 | Multi Paint System / MPS | マルチペイントシステム | 1992 | C-Lab |
| PC-98 | Paint System Tool / PST | 似非キース | 1990 | hironon |
| PC-98 | Penta-kun | ぺん太くん | 1994 | NEG |
| PC-98 | SANDY | 1994 | Wataru Ishihara | |
| PC-98 | Small CANDY | 1984 | ASCII | |
| PC-98 | Super Tableau | スーパータブロー | 1987 | SAPIENCE |
| PC-98 | Tableau | 1987 | SAPIENCE | |
| PC-98 | TrueLine | 1996 | OEAO | |
| PC-98 | Z’s STAFF | 1985 | Zeit | |
| PC-98 | Z’s STAFF Kid | 1986 | Zeit | |
| PC-98 | Z’s STAFF Kid98 | 1988 | Zeit | |
| PC-98 | Z’s STAFF Kid98 v3.0 | 1990 | Zeit | |
| PS-55 | Z’s STAFF TRAD | 1989 | Zeit | |
| SMC | Graphic Editor | グラフィックエディター | 1984 | Sony |
| TRON-OS | Pelistina | 2005 | KAENRYUU Koutoku | |
| TRON-OS | Pelistina 2 | 2005 | KAENRYUU Koutoku | |
| TRON-OS | Sketchbook | 楽描き帳 | 2011 | Satoshi Sera |
| TRON-OS | Xbrush for Chokanji | Xbrush for 超漢字 | 2013 | Akira Tasaki |
| Windows 2K | 4thPaint | よつばペイント | 2007 | 4th Paint Project |
| Windows 2K | Let’s Draw F | 2007 | Oscar Creation | |
| Windows 3.1 | Daisy Art | デイジーアート | 1995 | Ichikawa Soft Labratory |
| Windows 3.1 | Draw Unit | 1994 | Type-甲 | |
| Windows 3.1 | GOINDRW | 1996 | Yasuhiro Nakata | |
| Windows 3.1 | ImgFinish | 1996 | Syouichi Hattori | |
| Windows 3.1 | Pattern Editor PE | パターンエディタ PE | 1995 | Windows 3.1 |
| Windows 3.1 | Sailing Draw++ | 1993 | Jun Satomi | |
| Windows 3.1 | SUPER KiD | 1994 | Zeit | |
| Windows 3.1 | SUPER KiD v2.0 | 1995 | Zeit | |
| Windows 3.1 | Tsuruniha○○mushi | つるニハ○○ムシ | 1999 | Mr Dad |
| Windows 7 | EDGE2 | 2006 | TAKABO SOFT | |
| Windows 9x | 1bitPaper | 2004 | shiden | |
| Windows 9x | ArtistX | 2001 | ARINOKI | |
| Windows 9x | ArtistX Labolt | 2005 | ARINOKI | |
| Windows 9x | AZPainter | 2006 | Azel | |
| Windows 9x | AZPainter2 | 2009 | Azel | |
| Windows 9x | D-Pixed | 2000 | Jun Doi | |
| Windows 9x | DoggyPaint | 2000 | HKR.Jon | |
| Windows 9x | Dot Art Kakiko | ドット絵カキコ | 2000 | YUUKI |
| Windows 9x | Dot Art Vacation | ドット絵バケーション | 2002 | Arue |
| Windows 9x | Dot Editor Ver 4.0 | ドットエディタVer4.0 | 2000 | PSIKYO |
| Windows 9x | Dot Pictureditor | ドット絵でぃた | 2000 | shishido |
| Windows 9x | DotPainterALFAR | 2003 | Herohero | |
| Windows 9x | Easy Paint Tool SAI | ペイントツールSAI | 2004 | TANE/KOJI |
| Windows 9x | eco paint | エコペイント | 2006 | tyty |
| Windows 9x | EDGE | 2000 | TAKABO SOFT | |
| Windows 9x | FARLUX | ファーラックス | 1997 | Studio BullTerrier |
| Windows 9x | FudeBoard | 1998 | matumoto | |
| Windows 9x | Gpen96 | 1999 | Hiroshi Igami | |
| Windows 9x | GraphicsGale | 2004 | HUMANBALANCE | |
| Windows 9x | Hyper KiD | 2000 | Fanfare | |
| Windows 9x | Hyper-Paint | 2004 | kiriman | |
| Windows 9x | iDraw | 1996 | hawk | |
| Windows 9x | ILLUSTMAKER | 2000 | matumoto | |
| Windows 9x | Janus | 2007 | Rigeru | |
| Windows 9x | Kakukakuoji | かくかくおうじ | 2000 | 1BITMANIA |
| Windows 9x | L-Paint | 2001 | via | |
| Windows 9x | Let’s Draw | 1996 | Oscar Creation | |
| Windows 9x | Let’s Draw Z | 2003 | Oscar Creation | |
| Windows 9x | Light Painter | 2000 | Yoshi | |
| Windows 9x | LitePaint | 2000 | Rigeru | |
| Windows 9x | Matilda | 2001 | ViikiSoft | |
| Windows 9x | mdiapp | 2007 | nattou | |
| Windows 9x | Mpaint | 2001 | ura00 | |
| Windows 9x | Neko no Mori Graphic Editor | 猫の森グラフィックエディタ | 2009 | Neko no Mori Soft |
| Windows 9x | PAL Paint 2 | 2005 | Togura | |
| Windows 9x | PictBear | 2000 | Yasuyuki Kashiwagi | |
| Windows 9x | PictBear 2 | 2009 | Yasuyuki Kashiwagi | |
| Windows 9x | Pixia | 2000 | Isao Maruoka | |
| Windows 9x | Pointillist Feng Chu 3 | 点画師鳳雛３ | 2005 | Maya Takimoto |
| Windows 9x | PRETTY ART | 2000 | dmms_21 | |
| Windows 9x | SPED4 | 2001 | TwinkleSoft | |
| Windows 9x | SUPER KiD 95 | 1996 | Zeit | |
| Windows 9x | SUPER KiD FE | 1997 | Zeit | |
| Windows 9x | The Graphics | 2002 | Fanfare | |
| Windows 9x | Ultra KiD | ウルトラキッド | 1997 | Fanfare |
| Windows 9x | Ultra KiD v2.0 | ウルトラキッド | 1998 | Fanfare |
| Windows 9x | Yumeiro no Enogu | ゆめいろのえのぐ | 2008 | Kengo Watanabe |
| Windows CE | EDGE Pocket 2 | 2009 | TAKABO SOFT | |
| Windows CE | JINZO Paint 16 | 1999 | Tomohiro Ueno | |
| Windows CE | JINZO Paint 4 | 1999 | Tomohiro Ueno | |
| Windows CE | JINZO Paint full-colour | 1999 | Tomohiro Ueno | |
| Windows CE | mdiapp mobile | 2008 | nattou | |
| Windows CE | Pocket Artist | 2001 | Conduits | |
| X-Windows | Gedo / Graphic EDitor OMNI | 1999 | Yasuhito Sugiura | |
| X-Windows | Xbrush | 2001 | Akira Tasaki | |
| X-Windows | xpx | 1994 | yav | |
| X-Windows | XShodou | 1998 | Hiroaki Sakai | |
| X1 | turbo Z’s STAFF | 1985 | Zeit | |
| X68000 | Art68K | 1991 | OOYAMA | |
| X68000 | Easypaint SX-68K | 1991 | First Class Technology | |
| X68000 | EEL | 1994 | GORRY | |
| X68000 | EX-WIN (EX-System) | 1996 | Oh! X | |
| X68000 | Full Color Paint Tool SAI | フルカラーペイントツール-彩- | 1996 | TANE/KOJI |
| X68000 | G・TOOL | G・ツール | 1990 | Zainsoft |
| X68000 | G68KversionII-PRO | 1989 | OH! Bussiness | |
| X68000 | GE | 1990 | Miki Hoshino | |
| X68000 | GLab | 1992 | Ushi no shizuku | |
| X68000 | gm256.x | 1993 | Kanzu | |
| X68000 | Graphics Editor ARTIST | 1992 | T.Shimanuki/GCC | |
| X68000 | Matier | マチエール | 1992 | Meteor Art Tech |
| X68000 | mfged.x | 1988 | Mamiyu Yuuki | |
| X68000 | MONOCRAYON | ＭＯＮＯくれよん | 1990 | Yasuhiro Sasama |
| X68000 | MONOCRAYON Wide Edition | ワイド版 ＭＯＮＯくれよん | 1994 | Noboru Ishii |
| X68000 | Monotone | 1988 | GUNchan | |
| X68000 | Onazorikun | 1990 | Muchi | |
| X68000 | Prism 68K | プリズム68K | 1989 | WOLF TEAM |
| X68000 | RG | ＲＧ | 1992 | RERO2 |
| X68000 | RGBP | 1994 | Tetsuya Kimura | |
| X68000 | Usagi | うさぎ | 1992 | IKUTA |
| X68000 | XGE | 1995 | KYA!,CHIAKI | |
| X68000 | XPST | 1991 | kenna & PUNA | |
| X68000 | Z’s STAFF Pro-68K | 1987 | Zeit | |
| X68000 | Z’s STAFF Pro-68K v2.0 | 1989 | Zeit | |
| Zaurus | PetitPaint | 2001 | TOK | |
| Zaurus | PrismPaint 3 | 2001 | Soga Juroh | |
| Zaurus | PrismPocket | 2002 | Soga Juroh | |
| Zaurus | Zausuke | ざうすけ | 2000 | Soga Juroh |
| Zaurus Linux | CloverPaint | 2005 | Soga Juroh | |
| Zaurus Linux | PetitPeinture | 2004 | Sakira | |
| Dedicated | Aniputer | アニピュータ | 1982 | JVC |
| Dedicated | Hyper Paint 2 | 1991 | Shima Seiki | |
| Dedicated | Personal LINKS: PFB-2 | 1991 | LINKS Corporation | |
| Dedicated | Pyuta G-GRAPHIC | ぴゅう太 G-GRAPHIC | 1982 | Tomy |
| Dedicated | SGI-Pictoris | ピクトリス | 1988 | LINKS Corporation |
| Dedicated | SGX-Hyper Paint | 1988 | Shima Seiki |
Originally published: 2023-10-21
--
Enjoyed this blog post? Please buy me a coffee.
--
Comments: @gingerbeardman