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NTT Docomo (previously styled as DoCoMo) is a Japanese mobile phone carrier known for launching the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-mode">i-mode</a>&nbsp;mobile internet service in early 1999.

<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-mode">i-mode</a>&nbsp;contained one of the earliest emoji sets, designed by&nbsp;interface designer&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigetaka_Kurita">Shigetaka Kurita</a>. While Kurita&#39;s 1999 emoji set is commonly cited as the first emoji set, it is more accurate to deem this <a href="/softbank/1997/">one of the first emoji sets</a>&nbsp;as earlier examples have been located, albeit on less-popular platforms than Docomo&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-mode">i-mode</a>.

Notably in 1995, Docomo produced a popular <a href="/pocket-bell">Pocket Bell</a> pager that allowed users to send each other&nbsp;simple pixel <a href="/red-heart">heart</a>&nbsp;(❤) and&nbsp;<a href="/telephone">telephone</a> (☎) symbols.&nbsp;The popularity of this feature amongst Japan&#39;s youth has consistently been cited by&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigetaka_Kurita">Shigetaka Kurita</a>&nbsp;as a direct source of inspiration when creating <a href="/docomo/1999">Docomo&#39;s 1999</a> emoji set.

Note: Each&nbsp;emoji design within every pre-2010 emoji set has been mapped to its modern Unicode codepoint, despite these sets existing prior to Unicode emoji standardization.

Early emoji sets from Japanese carrier Docomo, including the often-cited 1999 emoji set designed by Shigetaka Kurita.

NTT Docomo

The final original emoji set from NTT Docomo. Initially installed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/service/docomo_mail/appli/deco/pictograph/index.html">on carrier handsets running&nbsp;Android 4.3 and 4.4</a>&nbsp;and later discontinued&nbsp;and replaced with <a href="/google/">standard Google emoji designs</a> on&nbsp;phones from NTT Docomo in Japan.

2013

An updated version of the NTT Docomo emoji set <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070108235809/http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp:80/binary/pdf/service/imode/mail/imode_mail/emoji_convert/pictogram.pdf">first in use in 2006</a>&nbsp;and remaining in use <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080920215707/http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp:80/binary/pdf/service/mail/imode_mail/function/emoji_convert/pictogram.pdf">until at least 2008</a>. This is the version of the Docomo emoji set&nbsp;<a href="https://stories.moma.org/the-original-emoji-set-has-been-added-to-the-museum-of-modern-arts-collection-c6060e141f61">displayed</a> at the Museum of Modern Art.

Note: Each&nbsp;emoji has been mapped to its modern Unicode codepoint, despite this set existing prior to Unicode emoji standardization.

2006

Note: Each&nbsp;emoji has been mapped to its modern Unicode codepoint, despite this set existing prior to Unicode emoji standardization.

2002

2001

A color version of Docomo&#39;s first emoji set. These emoji designs have been on display within the&nbsp;Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City since 2016.

Note: Each&nbsp;emoji has been mapped to its modern Unicode codepoint, despite this set existing prior to Unicode emoji standardization.

2000

The first emoji set from Japanese carrier Docomo (styled NTT DoCoMo in 1999). One of the most successful early emoji sets due to its use on multiple devices. Designed by Japanese interface designer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigetaka_Kurita">Shigetaka Kurita</a>, these minimalistic graphics were used on multiple devices, and evolved to <a href="/docomo/2013/">a vector graphic implementaiton in 2013</a>.

Commonly cited as the first emoji set, it is more accurate to deem this one of the first emoji sets. An emoji implementation from competing Japanese carrier <a href="/softbank/1997/">Softbank predated this set with a 1997 emoji release</a>.

Note: Each&nbsp;emoji has been mapped to its modern Unicode codepoint, despite this set existing prior to Unicode emoji standardization.

1999

Docomo

Docomo

2002 - 01 January 2002

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