Japanese vs US Blu-rays

[Kyo28]

Hello fellow HD-fans,

I have some questions regarding Hollywood movies in the JP or US release (both are in the same region now).

My situation is as follows:
I've mastered English well enough to watch Hollywood movies in English. My girlfriend however gets exhausted from reading/listening a lot to English, so Japanese subtitles are welcome for her. She needs to concentrate too hard to follow the movie and that prevents her sometimes from enjoying it.

How I'm planning to handle purchases:
- Hollywood movies that we both enjoy, I'll buy the Japanese BR, so she can have Japanese subtitles (and I can enjoy them too then).
- Hollywood movies that I alone enjoy (Science-fiction, etc), I'll get the cheapest version (US or JP, but almost always the US version is cheapest)
- Japanese movies/series, we'll of course get the Japanese release

Now for the questions:
- I've noticed that for the same BR, I usually pay more in Japan than online US prices. Is there a reason for that? Is it because of the Japanese voice actors that need to be paid or the exchange rate of the dollar-yen?
- I often see that some US BR's have a lot of subtitles, including Chinese and Korean but often Japanese is left out. Are there various versions, among which one where Japanese subtitles are included?
- Do you guys have interesting online shops that sell Japanese BR's cheaply, aside from Amazon Japan?

Sorry for the long post, but it would really help me to get a clearer view in all this.

[WickyWoo]

- I've noticed that for the same BR, I usually pay more in Japan than online US prices. Is there a reason for that? Is it because of the Japanese voice actors that need to be paid or the exchange rate of the dollar-yen?

It's because of several things:

1- The yen was revalued back in the 1980s. Where 5800yen was standard pricing for a video and the equivalent of $29.95US, it essentially doubled overnight, while still remaining the same relative price in Japan. Studios naturally enjoyed this sudden revenue boost, and it also still needs to be higher for the lower volume/higher cost of doing business in Japan

2- Japan's distribution system is so fractured. A disc can literally pass through half a dozen pairs of hands between plant and your local store, each one taking its own share

I've met a lot of seiyuu, and I don't think any of them have ever mentioned royalties.

I often see that some US BR's have a lot of subtitles, including Chinese and Korean but often Japanese is left out. Are there various versions, among which one where Japanese subtitles are included?

2 reasons-

1- To keep Japanese people from buying the cheaper versions available outside the country
2- A Japanese studio (Toei, Toho, Pony Canyon etc) owns the Japanese rights

Do you guys have interesting online shops that sell Japanese BR's cheaply, aside from Amazon Japan?

Amazon has lower prices than anyone, and since you don't have to ship them...hey.

I wish more Amazon-J Marketplace sellers would ship outside the country, there's a lot of JPop/Rock used DVDs that are signifigantly cheaper, and it's far easier than scouring 57 used disc shops in Japan.

[Kyo28]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

I wish more Amazon-J Marketplace sellers would ship outside the country, there's a lot of JPop/Rock used DVDs that are signifigantly cheaper, and it's far easier than scouring 57 used disc shops in Japan.

Thanks for your replies. Yeah, buying used discs is the absolute cheapest way. I often check the used shops but since Blu-ray has a smaller penetration than DVD's (which are omnipresent), it's not always easy to find those I'm interested in. So that's why I started looking online ...
Anyway, interesting insights you've got there and I'll keep an eye on Amazon JP.

[Cplhicks]

I have the same problem with my wife, so if you find any good solutions, Kyo, let me know! BTW, Some Warner Bros US releases (most of the Harry Potter films, Blade Runner) have Japanese subtitles on them. If you find anymore, I'd love to know.

[dannyjl]

I don't think I'll ever buy a new blu in Japan as the prices are up to three times what you can get at Amazon.com when they have sales. Even better deals can be had buying used blu's from Amazon market place. I get back to the states quite a lot so I have them shipped there but you could get international shipping and it'll still be a lot cheaper than in Japan.

One of the best deals going regularly are the 25 and 30% discounts from Warner Bros. on their already discounted prices. Check the hot deals forum for the codes to use. Downside is they only ship to the U.S. - so you'd have to know somebody there who could ship to Japan. I ordered a bunch last week and some as low as $13 with free shipping.


I have several of the Kubrick disks and I believe most of them have Japanese subtitles. BEWARE of Prison Break Season 1, the cover states Japanese language and subtitles but not to be found on the disk.

Renting blu's here is not much of an option yet. My stores just started a few months ago and my collection of 100+ is much larger than any rental shop. I guess it'll take another year or so before we get a lot of stock.

Hope this helps and happy viewing.

[Kyo28]

Originally Posted by Cplhicks

I have the same problem with my wife, so if you find any good solutions, Kyo, let me know! BTW, Some Warner Bros US releases (most of the Harry Potter films, Blade Runner) have Japanese subtitles on them. If you find anymore, I'd love to know.

Aha! that's interesting news. We both like Harry Potter, so I'll get the US releases for those. Typically a movie we can watch together.
On another note, it would be interesting to create a thread with a master list of 'foreign' BR's that have Japanese audio and/or subtitles. I see there are some people with the same problem as us in this forum. Thanks for the tip and I'll make sure to post some if I find them!

Originally Posted by dannyjl

I don't think I'll ever buy a new blu in Japan as the prices are up to three times what you can get at Amazon.com when they have sales. Even better deals can be had buying used blu's from Amazon market place. I get back to the states quite a lot so I have them shipped there but you could get international shipping and it'll still be a lot cheaper than in Japan.

One of the best deals going regularly are the 25 and 30% discounts from Warner Bros. on their already discounted prices. Check the hot deals forum for the codes to use. Downside is they only ship to the U.S. - so you'd have to know somebody there who could ship to Japan. I ordered a bunch last week and some as low as $13 with free shipping.


I have several of the Kubrick disks and I believe most of them have Japanese subtitles. BEWARE of Prison Break Season 1, the cover states Japanese language and subtitles but not to be found on the disk.

Renting blu's here is not much of an option yet. My stores just started a few months ago and my collection of 100+ is much larger than any rental shop. I guess it'll take another year or so before we get a lot of stock.

Hope this helps and happy viewing.

Thanks, a lot of good info. I didn't know that Prison Break actually doesn't have the subtitles that are advertised ... also good info to put into some sort of master list, so others don't get tricked.

Some discs just don't make sense to me. According to websites, The Last Samurai (US release) doesn't have Japanese audio or subs. I mean, the whole movie plays out in Japan and the majority of the actors are Japanese. Same thing for anime, sometimes they just don't add the Japanese audio or subs, which is a shame as it already existed before the US release even.

Now I've noticed that shops such as Geo and HMV (in Japan) have started with BR-rentals ... the selection is still small but it's a start.

I think I'll make a list of US BR's that have Japanese audio/subs and go from there as I originally planned:
- movies that I alone like = US release (probably order from Amazon US)
- movies that we both like =
a) get the US release if JP subs or audio is present
b) failing that check the used shops (physical shops & online)
c) very last resort: buy the JP release (new), most likely at Amazon JP or using discount coupons.

One small question, does Amazon US also ship BR's abroad? I think they state that not all goods can be shipped internationally, but I believe BR's are OK.

[ryoohki]

Originally Posted by Kyo28

Aha! that's interesting news. We both like Harry Potter, so I'll get the US releases for those. Typically a movie we can watch together.
On another note, it would be interesting to create a thread with a master list of 'foreign' BR's that have Japanese audio and/or subtitles. I see there are some people with the same problem as us in this forum. Thanks for the tip and I'll make sure to post some if I find them!


Thanks, a lot of good info. I didn't know that Prison Break actually doesn't have the subtitles that are advertised ... also good info to put into some sort of master list, so others don't get tricked.

Some discs just don't make sense to me. According to websites, The Last Samurai (US release) doesn't have Japanese audio or subs. I mean, the whole movie plays out in Japan and the majority of the actors are Japanese. Same thing for anime, sometimes they just don't add the Japanese audio or subs, which is a shame as it already existed before the US release even.

Now I've noticed that shops such as Geo and HMV (in Japan) have started with BR-rentals ... the selection is still small but it's a start.

I think I'll make a list of US BR's that have Japanese audio/subs and go from there as I originally planned:
- movies that I alone like = US release (probably order from Amazon US)
- movies that we both like =
a) get the US release if JP subs or audio is present
b) failing that check the used shops (physical shops & online)
c) very last resort: buy the JP release (new), most likely at Amazon JP or using discount coupons.

One small question, does Amazon US also ship BR's abroad? I think they state that not all goods can be shipped internationally, but I believe BR's are OK.

Book, CD AUDIO, DVD and Blu-ray can be shipped anywhere in the World.