Why Japan Version?
 

I just see it sometimes as such an importance. But is it really?
Why is it better, or why is it worse? :thud

I think some people like to collect them because the artist is from Japan, hence they want original CDs from that country.
To me it doesn't really matter, I don't really see a loss of quality between the different versions.
One drawback is that Japan versions are more expensive.

I've seen some people buying the JP press just because they want to support that artist on the Oricon charts

Also JP press has better quality than OS press~

So OS press doesn't support oricon?

^Nope.

I guess because japan version is more expensive so people think its more worthed (like me) and it doesnt support oricon. its just supporting local chart

I mainly buy the JP version because I buy to support the artist, so of course I want it to count towards the charts. But I also buy it because I want the original, what the CD is originally released as, I mean. And I've heard that is has the best quality, but I don't know if that's true since I've never listened to any other versions. But those two reasons are enough to make me spend a few dollars extra for the Japanese press, anyhow, whether the quality thing is true or not.

Hong Kong/Taiwan/Korea presses are all really nice cept the packaging quality. Personally, I've notice that Hong Kong/Korea presses have inferior casings (flimsy, easily cracked). Taiwan press has cases that dont close especially CD+DVD cases (alan's voice of earth, Utada's Prisoner of Love)

Hm, I didn't know the physical part of the CD was inferior quality, too. :O Glad I buy the Japanese copies.

I support the artists.
I love the QUALITY from inside and out. (I dunno but it's really different if I have the JP press)

well people have mentioned that quality , packaging & stuff is up there as compared to OS presses

personally to me , I only buy Japan presses as the last resort ie. if the artiste that I support don't have any OS presses at all

if they have , I don't see why I have to pay so much to get a Japan press where I can get an OS press album/single/DVD at 1/2 the cost I can save on

good:
support artists, best quality overall. original.

bad:
much much more expensive!!

^ :roflmao

harsh but yeah I do agree with the points that you have written there

OS presses are a life saver for me being a poor sod . I don't mind waiting for them to be out & I can save almost like 1/2 - 3/4 of my $ as compared to what I 'm expected to pay for a Japan press :S

I support quite a lot of artistes that don't get OS presses because they're in indie labels & believe me paying so much for their stuff being all Japan presses are a nightmare @_@ :dead2

I only buy japanese presses, cause I wanna support the artist I love. Simple as that.
Another reason is that I wanna have the original. Same with korean or chinese artists by the way.

i personally don't care what version to get as long as i get the material i want. yes, there are noticable differences, but it's usually minimal or doesn't affect the actual product itself. overseas presses, usually from Hong Kong or Taiwan, are exactly like the Japan presses, imo. they just have an extra translation sheet and/or the OBI/sleeve is printed in Chinese.

if i couldn't get the "First Press" or "Limited Edition" of a Japanese press, i definitely rely on overseas versions to get it if it's available (i'm not going to settle for a measly Standard/Normal Edition if there's a Limited Press is out there!). it's cheaper too, which can benefit those who can't get the Japan presses, because really, they're expensive. you can get more with your money. just make sure they're officially released by avex asia, Sony, etc.

tbh, the only drawback to buying the OS press is the fact it's not counted on ORICON. but i like to remain optimistic and say you're helping them expand in Asia with your OS purchase. LOL. ;)

I would totally buy JP PRESS if not for the fact that they're TOTALLY expensive here in SG.. :(

i want all my favourite artistes cds to be japan version..cos somehow i always feel that they are the original ones.. for other non favourite artists, i will settle for local/taiwan/hong kong versions..

For me it's not important to have only japan versions. As long as the CD I buy is not a bootleg, I don't care what version it is.

It's authentic since it's from Japan and like other people said the quality of the packaging is way better than OS press CDs.

the color of the prints are different too... I dunno why but overseas seem to be darker than the japanese versions lol

when I buy DVD's or CD+DVD stuff I always buy Japanese press.
I live in Europe and we have the same DVD region code as Japan.. so I kinda have to have JPN press lol

when it comes to singles or cd only albums it doesn't really matter to me.

OH since Alex has mentinoned about the whole region code issue , another reason that I don't buy Japan press's because of region code differences

my laptop cannot support region code 2 DVDs but my house's living room DVD player can but still aiyah , lazy lah , I want the DVDs to work in both my laptop & DVD player :P

mine is crazier. It cant work in my DvD player and laptop either. even that i buy japan or OS version because Australia didnt support region 2 and 3

so my DVD just for collection. never played that

^ Try VLC player!!
My region code is 1 but I have both region 2 and 3 DVDs and VLC plays them fine!! And you don't have to change the code on your laptop either.
And VLC is free!!! Try version 8.6. :)

ohh.. thanks for your suggestion. I will try to ownload it now

ehhh

then what's Austraila's region DVD code ? o_O

VLC Media Player never works for me . I downloaded it many times & my laptop hates to accept it GRRRR ;_____;

I have no problems with the DVD codes cause my DVD is code free :D

my computer thou, is totally gay xD I never use it to watch DVDs and stuff...

I had my desktop stuck in region 3, so I bought OS presses for a while, plus, they're cheaper. However, I was able to hack our new DVD player and so now it doesn't matter what I buy.

If I'm buying like a tour DVD, I like to wait till an OS press because it's cheaper. But for alan and Ayu, especially if there's a first press bonus, I like to get the Japanese press. especially for my alan

LOLZ

lucky you. my DVD is locked for australia region

Australia's region is 4.
I've downloaded VLC and YAIIIYYY it works. finally I can play DVD in my laptop..yuhu. btw I dunno how to restart DVD region for sure..LMAO

^you can easily buy a code-free one!! :D just need to look and you will surely find ;)



EDIT: extra, how can I make my computer region free? I've changed mine the times u are allowed to change already so I can't change anymore lol is there any program that I could download?

you can see all DVD region codes here XD

-
I can watch all DVDs on my laptop as well with VLC player. but I want to watch the concert tours in my living room on the big screen XD
and the JPN press dvd's are released faster than OS press. and they come with nice goodies like Namie's BFT which was a digipack.. the OS version didn't have that.. I think lol

but yeah, for CD only items I couldn't care less what press it is. unless I pre-order it or something :P

lol from what I know Alex , Taiwan press of her BEST FICTION tour DVD & let alone Hong Kong press , inital pressings is packaged in a digipak

but eee lousy Warner S'pore weren't able to get the digipak edition to be sold here :eviltongu

Wow, so many people usually buy "non-original" versions, huh? :O I wonder how much of a difference it would make on the charts and such if the majority of foreigners actually bought the Japanese version...

oops. I got OS press mixed up with the Singapore press :tipsy lol
because I remember there was a thread about it here :P

haha Alex usually when I labelled my jpop collection , I be specified

OS - Taiwan/Hong Kong

Singapore - well Singapore LOL xD . The only Malaysian press (yes I know -_-) item I have's Utada Hikaru's HEART STATION album

for me, i really don't care, though the quality is better on the JP ones.

I used to buy OS presses all the time, but recently, I've noticed that the Japan presses are far superior in quality.

Example #1. I got Koda Kumi's "feel my mind" Korean press and then the Japan press to replace it. The korean press has the SM sticker and a Korean translation on the front cover, the Japan press has none of this. The Korean artwork is over saturated, and the disc ink is smudged in comparison to the Japan press.

Example #2. I got BoA's "LOVE & HONESTY" Korean press and have now replaced it with the CD+DVD Japan press. The Korean press is printed on cheap card, while the Japan press is printed on smoother, glossier paper. Again, the Korean press is over saturated in comparison to the Japan press.

Example #3. BoA "LISTEN TO MY HEART". The Korean obi has an advertisement text of BoA (e.g. #1 STAR DEBUT ALBUM etc) on one side, and an explanation of copy control on the other. The Japan obi only has the singles from the album on one side.

China versions are the worst, please avoid them. They are produced extremely cheaply, and it shows. Obi's are printed wonky and aren't folded properly, Chinese writing over the covers, TWO shiny stickers on the artwork, ugh.

Of course, if you don't mind about those differences, by all means purchase OS versions. But, to be honest, I'm paying for the music, so I want the best quality version, hence why I now purchase Japan versions only.

And what do you want to say with that?
Most people need something to believe in, religion isn't a bad thing, really. The same with japanese presses. Let people buy what they want to buy. If they believe it's better for them (or not, like you) then it's ok.

Uh, what do you mean by this? :eyebrow

^ Maybe she means that people get Japan press because they think it's superior, or something...

yeah I think so , judging from what nemesisyume said

I could be wrong about it though

Well, I for one always buy Japanese press. Of course, a good reason for that being that I live in Japan.

However, back in college I used to buy OS (Taiwan) presses, and I didn't mind the print quality difference since it was so much cheaper. That is, until one time, after playing Ayu's RAINBOW in a normal cd player, I took it out and noticed that some of the silver edging of the TOP of the cd was coming off (I didn't not bump or drop the CD either...). For those of you who don't know, that is the DATA side of the cd, and the worst place to have damage. It was only on the edge, around the blue label, so it didn't affect playback, but it made me realize that the OS cds are pressed very poorly.

I haven't bought an OS press since...