Japanese DVDs? Why so expensive....?

[lewden]

I picked up the Japanese version of Avalon from a friend in Japan for approximately £30 which seems to be the going price from most of the major retailers out there.....I'd really like to improve my collection of Japanese releases but that seems really expensive. Why are Japanese films so pricey? I was really shocked!

Does anyone know of any good distributors of Japanese films within the UK at reasonable prices?

Sorry if this thread has been posted before...but the search function seems to be disabled. I'll post my Avalon review in the review folder when I get the time........

[Jimmyboy]

It is very annoying that Jap DVDs are so expensive.
If your a manga fan it poses a real problem to your CC.
I dont think theres any way of getting hold of Jap titles cheap other than hoping they get an R1 or R2 release later on.

[NexusSheep]

Originally posted by lewden
Does anyone know of any good distributors of Japanese films within the UK at reasonable prices?

Japanese films? Reasonable prices?! Within the UK?!?!

Nope, but next time I see a low-flying pig, I'll be sure to ask. ;)

But seriously, I think it's pretty much as Jimmyboy said - wait for the R1/2/4 release and hope for the best. Sad state of affairs, I know, but what can you do? I recently paid just under £30 for Grave of the Fireflies. Expensive, certainly, but worth every penny IMO.

Actually, kanedaa will probably know the answer to your question.

[lewden]

just as I feared....

its a bit of a gamble isn't it? ....spending £30 a film you think will be good....but aren't quite sure........

anyone got any recommendations out there? where's this kaneeda fella when you need him? (I'm assuming kaneeda is a man...apologies if he isn't).....

Nexus Sheep: Where did you get 'Grave of the Fireflies' from BTW...?

[Tim Fleming]

Apart from a historically strong economy and high wages, I doubt that there is a good reason... it is just the way that it is. It is the same with CDs, LDs, and VHS tapes all of which, for the most part, have always been extremely expensive - particularly the domestic product (imported CDs for example being found for almost half the price of the locally produced product - from my experiences at Tokyo based shops like RecoFan).

Possibly with Japan again entering recession (I think for the 3rd or 4th time in the past decade), and with their traditional job security no longer guaranteed and record (and rising) levels of unemployment, things may change and we might see the lowering of prices on such items - however, I know bugger all about economics so I would take what I say with an extremely large sack of salt ;)

regards, Tim...

[Lenny Nero]

Yes indeed very expensive, I've only bought a couple releases from Japan but want much more.
Those I got were two boxsets comprising the first season of Dark Angel, plus a pilot DVD separately, cost me US$280 for the 21 episodes on 11 dvds, a bit too much, like getting two x-files seasons at RETAIL price.

I also want some other Japan-exlusive for now releases like the complete one and only season of Total Recall 2070 on 4 volumes but that's another $200 :(

[dvd-4-life]

I just purchased Ally McBeal,season #2 from Japan and plus shipping It's $156.Good thing Ally McBeal season #4 is being released in France,Dec. 12th at about $92 US.

[NexusSheep]

Originally posted by lewden
Nexus Sheep: Where did you get 'Grave of the Fireflies' from BTW...?

CDJapan. (http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/) You can also get it from Amotokyo. (http://www.amotokyo.com) I've not used them before, but I've heard they're good. Prices between these two sites are fairly similar, i.e. very expensive. Oh well, life goes on. :D

[kanedaa]

Originally posted by lewden
Does anyone know of any good distributors of Japanese films within the UK at reasonable prices?

I think this question has already been answered, but i'll echo the general 'NO' :D

Sadly there is no such thing as a decent UK distributor of Japanese discs, but the good news is that the online Japanese retailers are very very good.

www.cdjapan.co.jp
www.amotokyo.com
www.amazon.co.jp

All are top-notch suppliers and each have varying good/bad points....for basic info on all of them check the Suppliers Thread (http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3779#amo) where there is also a link to a more detailed thread on Amotokyo. There was a link for a detailed thread I did comparing the three places on price/shipping etc - sadly thats disappeared :(

As for the prices over there, like everyone else has said - its just the way it is. On a plus side I've not seen one Japanese Disc that isn't of exceptional quality (picture/sound wise) - especially in comparison to the uk/us alternatives.

Recommendations - All of the Japanese titles I have are reviewed by myself over at DVDTimes.co.uk - here are the direct links....

Avalon (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=Review&id=241&story=2083) Castle of Cagliostro (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=Review&id=131&story=1816) Grave of the Fireflies (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=Review&id=109&story=1780) Kiki's Delivery Service (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=Review&id=91&story=1749) My Neighbours the Yamadas (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=Review&id=126&story=1808) My Neighbour Totoro (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=Review&id=284&story=2194)

As you can see, anime is what I'm mainly interested in although I do have Scream Directors Cut which is a decent disc and offers the only anamorphic transfer of said film in the world to my knowledge....I also have a review pending for the R2 Japanese Mononoke Hime (needless to say the disc is inspiring). For more R2 Anime reviews checkout AnimeonDVD (http://www.animeondvd.com).

dave.

[NexusSheep]

Originally posted by kanedaa

...There was a link for a detailed thread I did comparing the three places on price/shipping etc - sadly thats disappeared :(


That's what you think ;) ...

in the case of, for example, the Studio Ghibli DVDs they retail at 4700yen....in Japan very FEW shops (especially e-tailers) discount....and in the case of CDJapan the prices are slightly inflated (then you add the 5% international customer tax)...shipping is roughly 1200yen although it is damn fast (3 days).

Amazon.co.jp DO discount but ONLY on pre-orders - I got Mononoke Hime for 4250yen (down from 4700yen), used a 500yen coupon (see this thread in the Bargain forum) and chose their cheapest/slowest (2weeks apparently) delivery at 600yen per disc (i think)....and thats a bargain at roughly £25!!!

other alternative e-tailers are....

www.amotokyo.com - where I have now done 3 successful co-buys on these forums to get Ghibli discs for £30 each.

a basic comparison is this....for Totoro

CDJapan = 4935+5%+1200p&p = 6385 = £36.30 (3days delivery)
Amotokyo = $44.70+$12p&p = $56.70 = £39 (3days delivery)
Amazon = 4700+600p&p = 5300 = £30 (2-5 weeks delivery)
Amazon = 4700+2700p&p = 7400 = £42 (3days delivery)

Note - 3days from dispatch of delivery, this is EMS and in my experience its always been 3days (roughly) delivery.

CDJapan & Amotokyo - No customs guaranteed (99%)
Amazon - Apparently they mark goods as Book = no customs, I have no personal experience as of yet...

the last alternative I know of (apart from a few overpriced American retailers) is www.animejungle.com who sell 2nd hand DVDs and can work out very cheap - but the good stuff goes FAST!


I have my sources.... :cool:

[Fat Man Hackett]

Having just come back from Tokyo, I know all about high priced DVD's (having only come back with one copy of Scream), but if you know someone based over there (and there's a lot of Brits, Yanks and Aussies over there teaching English), ask them to scour the second-hand places. Mint condition (and I mean mint - they look after their stuff over there) DVD's for about £15, and I was picking up CD's from as little as £2.50!!

As for recommendations, I came back with Scream DC, the Superman Boxset (Superman coming on 2 DVD-9's, not a DVD-18) in a super strong box with the Superman logo placed on a Superman blue background (is this the only place to get it like this?), Bruce Lee in GOD (the new HK moving showing how it was made, and then all the lost footage), Afro Ken (Jap kiddies cartoon - it's got to be seen to be believed!), a K1 best of and a Pride show (these are both no rules boxing!!). The Pride DVD set me back about £35, but it's good...

[kanedaa]

Originally posted by Fat Man Hackatt
...ask them to scour the second-hand places. Mint condition (and I mean mint - they look after their stuff over there) DVD's for about £15

I can vouch for the quality of 2nd hand stuff from Japan. The place I mention at the end of my post that NexusSheep found (thanx m8, copied and pasted that for future reference :) ) are a superb online site that I managed to get a 2nd hand but still sealed (ie. someone sold a sealed copy to them) copy of Scream DC for £18 inc p&p...only thing is good titles like this don't come into stock very often and when they do you have to be fast.

CDs for £2.50 though!!! Sadly thats not possible over the net :(

dave.

[horseflesh]

kanedaa
Do you know anything about the Hong Kong IVL releases??
coolashop doesn't really say much.................

[kanedaa]

afraid not horseflesh....another forum member, wong fei hong, has ordered Kikis i think, so he'll update us on that when he receives it.

I'd like to purchase them myself and do comparison reviews, but can't justify the costs right now - maybe he'll lend me Kiki (Hint, hint :D )...

dave.

[Tim Fleming]

Originally posted by NexusSheep


That's what you think ;) ...

...Amazon.co.jp DO discount but ONLY on pre-orders - I got Mononoke Hime for 4250yen (down from 4700yen), used a 500yen coupon (see this thread in the Bargain forum) and chose their cheapest/slowest (2weeks apparently) delivery at 600yen per disc (i think)....and thats a bargain at roughly £25!!!

So Kanedaa... where did the 500yen voucher come from? As the administrator of this site has seen fit to disable the search function I am unable to do any kind of a search to locate the thread you mention.

regards, Tim...

[kanedaa]

The vouchers are no longer in use Tim - they ran out Oct30th i believe. There was quite a big thread in the bargain forum, but like you say its hard to dig up...but hopefully they'll be more vouchers in the future.

Forum member <i>Budge</i> was trying to work-out the 'refer a friend' scheme but never succeeded....may be worth a try? Ability to read Japanese would help though :D

Sorry I can't give you any better news :(

dave.

[Tim Fleming]

Originally posted by kanedaa
The vouchers are no longer in use Tim - they ran out Oct30th i believe. There was quite a big thread in the bargain forum, but like you say its hard to dig up...but hopefully they'll be more vouchers in the future.

Forum member <i>Budge</i> was trying to work-out the 'refer a friend' scheme but never succeeded....may be worth a try? Ability to read Japanese would help though :D

Sorry I can't give you any better news :(

dave.

Thanks for that.

As for the "refer a friend" scheme, I will get my wife onto that - being Japanese I think she should be able to work it out :)

regards, Tim...

Thinks out aloud: I wonder if there are any Japanese online DVD forums where these bargains might pop up from time to time?

[Philc]

<b>Why are Japanese films so pricey?</b>

Because everything else is. It's one of the most expensive countires in the world. A beer can cost up to a tenner. I recently bought <i>A Hard Days Night</i> and you really do get what you pay for. The features are really well laid out and you get three fancy looking plectrums with it :D. Some of the best DVD's have been mentioned before. <i>Scream DC,The Sixth Sense,Leon: Version Integrale,Battle Royale</i>. If you search around you can buy alot of dvd's for 2000 Yen (around 12 pounds) but it's the newer releases that go for the rrp of 4700 Yen (approx 30 pounds). Second hands DVd shops are few and far between but I have found some decent CD shops where you can pick them up for around 2 pounds. Tsutaya sells a large range of DVD's and CD's and also has a rental shop on the second floor. This chain of shops is all over Tokyo and Japan for that matter.Recofan does sells a small number of second hand music dvd's. If any of you want anything I will price it up in the shop and see if I can get hold of it before I return for Christmas. Ordering off the web is not much cheaper and due to the high prices of the dvd's themselves you are much more likely to be stung for tax. Remember too that it's region 2 NTSC those of you who don't have a compatible TV.

[akira9000]

I can remember in the old days ( 1994 ) paying nearly 45 quid for a VHS Urotsukidoji
The tape only lasted about 45 minutes aswell!

[DCH]

From what I've heard Japanese releases are primarily priced for the rental market which accounts for at least some of the price difference. In those terms they're actually cheaper than the US equivalents ; ( which can easily run between $50 and $100.

It may seem weird to us having end users and rental outlets paying the same prices for tapes but that just seems to be the order of business there.

This came about in the VHS market largely by accident (it seems the manufacturers had no real conception of a "keepers" market at first) and DVD prices seem to have ended up high due to some strange notion of equivalency (the same reason new albums on tapes, records, CD and MD's are all roughly in the same price range here, despite having different manufacturing and packaging costs).