imported japanese PS3.... can they play USA/CANADA blu-rays ??

[chchau]

so ive read some of the old threads on some region coding and all for the ps3 and its still kinda blurry.

I want to import a silver ps3 from japan to Canada... since my damn 60gb just got the flashing red light.

i know that games are region free so im not worried about playing games.
the big thing im worried about are BLURAYS. I only have about 30, all bought in the US or Canada. Ive read that both Japan and North america are region A ????

so will a jap silver ps3 play North american blurays ????

thanks in advance and sorry if this is just another thread that pops up every month or so.

=)