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NEWS: CDJapan: Avex Pictures Restricts Overseas BD, DVD, CD Shipments

Eh, normally I'd agree with this, but the number of people importing ridiculously expensive JP BDs is a pretty tiny number, and not very likely to effect their local distributor in most cases.

I hate to do it, but this is the very reason that I download torrents of every show that I like for archival purposes. I can't rely on there being a physical release for too many of my favorites. I buy JP releases regularly, but if I can't even do that in some cases now, that's too many shows that I'd have to leave out of my collection.

But aren't region restrictions usually meant to keep people from buying cheaper alternatives? Japanese releases are the most expensive in the world though. Why would they want to keep people from buying a more expensive release?

relyat08 wrote:

I hate to do it, but this is the very reason that I download torrents of every show that I like for archival purposes. I can't rely on there being a physical release for too many of my favorites. I buy JP releases regularly, but if I can't even do that in some cases now, that's too many shows that I'd have to leave out of my collection.

Might I recommend Malaysian DVD & BD releases? They are licensed products, always have English options (subtitles if nothing else), and are nearly all released as Region 0 product (meaning they can play anywhere in the world). I have several sets and picture quality is pretty good (tho they do try to cram as many episodes as they can on each disc). Plus they tend to have a lot of series that are generally out of print in the US and elsewhere.

Interesting. I wasn't aware of this. I buy a bit from the UK, South Korea, and occasionally Australia, but haven't gotten anything from Malaysia. I do care quite a lot for video quality though, so putting a lot on a single disc might be a deal breaker.

Malaysia is known hub for bootleg anime DVDs/CDs/etc and has been for a long, long time now.

Avex has several things available for purchase on the US iTunes store. I found the Yuri on Ice soundtrack and the Osomatsu-san OP & ED singles with just a cursory search.

I've been taking a break from BD collecting... As much as I'd like to jump on these brand new titles (especially that ice skating one) I've recently relocated with my family and the hospital I'm working at doesn't pay me as much as I'd anticipated they would. That and we are expecting our second child... I'll stick to streaming for now.

Yeah it's all because of Shinzo Abe and Donald Trump!

You'd be surprised what some might or might not consider to be "significant factors" when lawyers are involved. Doing this closes off one avenue of potential objections when negotiating/selling rights. Even if it means only a few thousand dollars difference, its something Avex can do with negligible effort for potentially a slightly more positive gain.

Before anyone complains about this, you should feel lucky that the folks in Japan even share their work with the rest of the world. Not that the titles mentioned are soul crushing or anything. Just a reminder.