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| Hoshi |
 Posted: Oct 14, 2009 8:03 pm |
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さくらんぼ
Joined: 29 Jan 2009
Posts: 47
Location: Atlanta,Georgia
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Hello y'all!
Recently I've been searching around the forums for an answer to my questions..but either i'm blind or the answer is not out there yet 
Recently I've been trying to buy more albums from my favorite singer (Ai of course).. and I've decided to buy some of her older albums on ebay and her newer albums on Yesasia or CDjapan.
My question is this what are the differences between:
-The Chinese CD versions
-The Original Japanese CD versions
-International CD versions
I'm sorry if the answers to these questions are already out there in the blog somewhere but I just wanted to know.
Thanks y'all! |
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| 1337rice |
| Posted: Oct 14, 2009 10:00 pm |
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クムリウタ
Joined: 24 Apr 2007
Posts: 758
Location: Toronto, Canada
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There are no "significant" differences between the two.
Assuming that you're buying from Yesasia, there are Hong Kong versions and Japan versions. They may look identical, but the Hong Kong version is printed in Chinese, and it is manufactured in Taiwan.
The Japanese version is basically the original product, written in Japanese and made in Japan.
The price is quite obvious as well, the Hong Kong version is priced lower because it's cheaper to make (lower wages I'm guessing...), in my opinion, the overall quality of the product feels cheaper for the Hong Kong version. |
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| mangomalte |
| Posted: Oct 15, 2009 6:29 am |
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ロケット Sneaker
Joined: 10 Oct 2006
Posts: 2906
Location: Sweden
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^ "printed in Chinese"? uh, no, that's missleading. from my experience of buying non-Japanese versions of singles and albums...
ayaka - First Message (Taiwan Version)
Ikimonogakari - My Song Your Song (Korea Version)
Ito Yuna - Endless Story (Korea Version)
Morning Musume - 7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume Mini! (Taiwan Version)
Morning Musume - All Singles Complete - 10th Anniversary (Korea Version)
Otsuka Ai - Ai am BEST (Hong Kong Version)
Otsuka Ai - LOVE COOK (Hong Kong Version)
Otsuka Ai - LOVE LETTER Tour 2009 Premium Box (Hong Kong Version)
Utada Hikaru - Heart Station (Korea Version)
Utada Hikaru - Ultra Blue (Taiwan Version)
YUI - Can't Buy My Love (Hong Kong Version)
YUI - Namidairo (Hong Kong Version)
...they don't differ from the Japanese versions in more than that they have an extra small booklet with translated lyrics and an extra sleeve with the Chinese/Korean title on the outside. Also, of course, the distributor, manufacturer and stuff is different on the CD and the real back, and they have a notice saying that you can't distribute the single/album in Japan until a certain date, or that it's only for distribution in a certain number of countries. other than that, which isn't that much, they look the same, with the same booklet with Japanese lyrics. First Message, Ultra Blue, My Song Your Song and Endless Sky even say that they're "identical to a CD distributed earlier in Japan", so there you go. 
also, most of those are bought from YA, so they have plenty of versions to choose from.
on the other hand, the two Hong Kong version movies i've got (Tokyo Friends - The Movie and Taiyou no Uta) have everything printed in Chinese. and English. but then again, the Japanese versions don't have english subtitles. 
you might wanna watch out for live DVDs or such in some cases. like, all the interviews on the DVD coming with MM's 10th Anniversary Singles Collection had hardcoded Korean subs, which kinda annoyed me.  i just popped in the HK version of the Love Letter Arena Tour to make sure the quality was the same as the Japanese version that i downloaded some time ago. and it was. difference is, of course, the region, and the warning texts in the beginning. + there's apparently Chinese subs for all the songs in the HK version... softsubs. i would've wanted English subs too, but lol, yeah, i shouldn't be greedy.
when it comes to the price, i guess it's wages and whatnot, since yeah, they're manufactured outside of Japan. might be that they use slightly cheaper material but i doubt it, they feel pretty much the same to me.
what i think might make a big difference is the fact that Japan is such a rich country that if they'd sell the wares outside of Japan for the same price they'd be more expensive for the average person, hence the "not for distribution in Japan" stuff to not let the Japanese people off easy, buying cheap versions, lol. i don't have any real evidence for that, but that's what i think.
edit: then again, of course, it feels better to hold a real Japanese version in your hands, but unless there's no cheaper choice, that feeling isn't worth the extra bucks. |
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| Hoshi |
| Posted: Oct 15, 2009 1:40 pm |
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さくらんぼ
Joined: 29 Jan 2009
Posts: 47
Location: Atlanta,Georgia
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| Ok..I get it now thanks y'all! |
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| emblem_of_chaos |
| Posted: Oct 31, 2009 1:38 pm |
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甘えんぼ
Joined: 31 Oct 2009
Posts: 73
Location: philippines
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thanks.........
this one is really a one big help for me... |
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