As in the title of the linked article, the earliest emoji are not from 1999, or 1997, but from 1988. I know, because I'm the guy that discovered them.
But, yes, they're emoji because they were created and named in Japan. The IBM set serves a different purpose and exists in a different context. But, they are both living happily alongside each other in Unicode.
But, yes, they're emoji because they were created and named in Japan. The IBM set serves a different purpose and exists in a different context. But, they are both living happily alongside each other in Unicode.