<< tips about CDs pressed/released in Japan >>
If you are collecting, or willing to collect Japanese CDs,
you'd better know some things about
you'd better know some things about
CDs pressed/released in Japan
On this blog, there are some tips which may help you getting BETTER ones.
*-* RELEASE DATE *-*
On "most of" Japan pressing CDs, the releasing date is indicated on OBI-STRIP and/or REAR INLAY as this picture.
On "most of" Japan pressing CDs, the releasing date is indicated on OBI-STRIP and/or REAR INLAY as this picture.
This means that this CD was "released on 1995 - Sep. - 30".
The upper date is of "RELEASE IN JAPAN", and the below one is of "RELEASE IN THE ORIGINAL COUNTRY" (since the original sound-source is from overseas).
This CD was released on the same day as the world release.
(*) In Japan, months' are expressed as this,
This CD was released on the same day as the world release.
(*) In Japan, months' are expressed as this,
January -1, February -2, March -3, April -4, May -5, June -6, July -7, August -8, September -9, October -10, November -11, December -12
(**) regarding letters next to the date,
Y means "master sound-sources are from overseas",
(**) regarding letters next to the date,
Y means "master sound-sources are from overseas",
X means "not allowed for a CD-rental".
This indication sometimes changes by era/label.
You may have one like this,
This means "released on 1999 - April - 7th / will be allowed for a discount on 2001 - April - 6th". You'd better remember that the first date is the release date.This indication sometimes changes by era/label.
You may have one like this,
This date-indication changes by CATALOG NUMBER.
For example, there are some versions of
THE BEACH BOYS - Love You
SRCS-6095 / 91-06-01
TOCP-65571 / 00-09-27
This means,
SONY MUSIC re-issued LOVE YOU on 1991 June 1, and
TOSHIBA EMI re-issued LOVE YOU on 2000 Sep. 27.
The indication is NOT always expressing the original release date.
If a CD was released (re-issued) after 1992, you can easily know when the CD was issued by finding the indication, but
you may also know some different ones which don't show the released YEAR.
There are 8 alphabets, 
NI (no photo)
H
O
R
E
CD (no photo)
These alphabets are showing the RELEASE YEAR.
These are taken from NIHON RECORD (Recording Industry Association in Japan).
** NIHON is also pronounced as NIPPON, means Japan.
N- 1984, I- 1985, H- 1986, O- 1987, N (second time),
R- 1988, E- 1989, C- 1990, O (second time), R (second time), D- 1991
Although some labels started to indicate the actual year around 1989~1991, this style was kept until 1991. After 1992, ALL CDs are showing the releasing (re-issuing) year by figures.
If a CD seller says "ORIGINAL 1988 CD!!" although the CD's insert shows "91-04-21" or something like that, you'd better NOT buy it. 1988 version must show R-xx-xx.
Now, there is another IMPORTANT notice about "the consumer-tax" in Japan.
Japan started to collect "the consumer-tax" in April 1, 1989 for the first time. After that date, all shops were put under an obligation to indicate the price "including tax/excluding tax" somewhere on the package.
Of course, CDs came to show prices in 2 ways after April 1989, but
These are taken from NIHON RECORD (Recording Industry Association in Japan).
** NIHON is also pronounced as NIPPON, means Japan.
N- 1984, I- 1985, H- 1986, O- 1987, N (second time),
R- 1988, E- 1989, C- 1990, O (second time), R (second time), D- 1991
Although some labels started to indicate the actual year around 1989~1991, this style was kept until 1991. After 1992, ALL CDs are showing the releasing (re-issuing) year by figures.
If a CD seller says "ORIGINAL 1988 CD!!" although the CD's insert shows "91-04-21" or something like that, you'd better NOT buy it. 1988 version must show R-xx-xx.
Now, there is another IMPORTANT notice about "the consumer-tax" in Japan.
Japan started to collect "the consumer-tax" in April 1, 1989 for the first time. After that date, all shops were put under an obligation to indicate the price "including tax/excluding tax" somewhere on the package.
Of course, CDs came to show prices in 2 ways after April 1989, but
most of the CATALOG NUMBER didn't change then.
For example,
WARRANT Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich
This album was released in Japan on 1989 Feb.1 (25DP-5378).
CDs that were sold through Feb.1~March 31 have only 1 price, 2500 YEN on OBI-STRIP, but CDs which were sold after April 1 shows 2 prices, 2348 YEN (including tax) / 2280 YEN (excluding tax).
** The price has been down then.
The above photo is later version. It can be confirmed around the bottom of the OBI-STRIP. There is a small square near the lower-left corner (it's actually CBS/SONY logo), and there are small letters at the right of the square. It is the PRICE (including tax/excluding tax).
On the early version, sold before April 1, there are almost NO letters at the right of the square.
Therefore, there are 2 versions of 25DP-5378 CD, but BOTH of them are showing
E-02-01
which means "released on 1989, Feb.1" on both OBI-STRIP and the REAR INLAY.
There is another important thing about this CD.
25DP-5378 is sold until 21st Century!! (**)
If you'll find to get this CD somewhere, and if the shop says "ORIGINAL 25DP-5378!!", you'd better ask the shop if the price is showing ONLY 2500 YEN, or showing 2280/2348 YEN.
The former one is the REAL original pressing.
There are many other CDs like this. You should remember that the Consumer-tax started in Japan on April 1, 1989 and all CDs which were sold after the day have 2 prices.
(**) Regarding long-term selling catalog numbers, we'll write more details on this blog.
For example,
WARRANT Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich
This album was released in Japan on 1989 Feb.1 (25DP-5378).
CDs that were sold through Feb.1~March 31 have only 1 price, 2500 YEN on OBI-STRIP, but CDs which were sold after April 1 shows 2 prices, 2348 YEN (including tax) / 2280 YEN (excluding tax).
** The price has been down then.
The above photo is later version. It can be confirmed around the bottom of the OBI-STRIP. There is a small square near the lower-left corner (it's actually CBS/SONY logo), and there are small letters at the right of the square. It is the PRICE (including tax/excluding tax).
On the early version, sold before April 1, there are almost NO letters at the right of the square.
Therefore, there are 2 versions of 25DP-5378 CD, but BOTH of them are showing
E-02-01
which means "released on 1989, Feb.1" on both OBI-STRIP and the REAR INLAY.
There is another important thing about this CD.
25DP-5378 is sold until 21st Century!! (**)
If you'll find to get this CD somewhere, and if the shop says "ORIGINAL 25DP-5378!!", you'd better ask the shop if the price is showing ONLY 2500 YEN, or showing 2280/2348 YEN.
The former one is the REAL original pressing.
There are many other CDs like this. You should remember that the Consumer-tax started in Japan on April 1, 1989 and all CDs which were sold after the day have 2 prices.
(**) Regarding long-term selling catalog numbers, we'll write more details on this blog.
on OBI-STRIP
on REAR INLAYThe below photo means
BANNED for CD-rental until 1988-July-4 / released on 1987-July-5th
we're checking these details, too, before listing.
our own web-shop
our ebay store
SANREMO PORTAL SITE (our main page)
*/ introducing links to our ebay STORE
(there you can choose ebay COM, CA, DE, IT, FR and/or more and more ebay)
*/ introducing our BLOGS and information of something about Japanese goods.
*/ introducing links to our ebay STORE
(there you can choose ebay COM, CA, DE, IT, FR and/or more and more ebay)
*/ introducing our BLOGS and information of something about Japanese goods.
