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[ViciousDS]

Alright,

I'm in desperate want of all Maximum the Hormone material....they are probably my favorite rock band out of Japan outside of X-japan, D'spairsray, and Alice Nine. I can't seem to find a place to buy their stuff digitally.....so what are good websites for importing music content? Without blowing my wallet I want to buy their stuff!


Unless there's a website that you know of that sells their material digitally.

 

[Garou]

How about creating a Japanese iTunes-account and buying some Japanese prepaid-cards?

Maybe even your local iTunes has some Japanese music.

Edit: Seems Maximum the Hormone don't distribute their music on iTunes
If you want to go physical, Amazon.co.jp or yesasia.com are usually good stores.

 

[Zeldana]

I've had luck with CDJapan in the past but that's for new-ish physical CDs and such. Alternatively you can browse Yahoo Japan auctions and mbok for sets of older releases at good prices (generally), though you'll most likely need a shopping service to access those items. Licensing can get weird as far as finding digital content goes so creating a JPN iTunes account, while annoying, may be your best bet on that front.

 

[storafötter]

I would love to see this thread flourish. I like a few japanese bands and going to Tokyo soon . Best independent record stores there would be a start.

 

[ViciousDS]

How about creating a Japanese iTunes-account and buying some Japanese prepaid-cards?

Maybe even your local iTunes has some Japanese music.

Edit: Seems Maximum the Hormone don't distribute their music on iTunes
If you want to go physical, Amazon.co.jp or yesasia.com are usually good stores.

Yes looks like a lot of what's on Amazon jp is already slated and has pricing for us. $29 for a CD sucks.....but Buiikikaesu is one of the best albums I have ever heard.


Will check out other sites.

 

[CheesecakeRecipe]

While no Maximum The Hormone is available on there, I find Ototoy has a good selection of music to buy digitally. I don't think every album is available for foreign customers, but I've purchased using my US-based Paypal account and never had issue.

 

[GustyGardens]

I used to buy my stuff from CDJapan, but this was years ago and I'm not sure if there's a better option. After awhile, some of the artists I liked offered shipping to the US from their site. I was quite surprised that Spotify had a few artists that I liked.

Like someone above mentioned, I've used Yahoo! Auctions for some older Malice Mizer stuff, but again - I haven't used that in years.

 

[ViciousDS]

I used to buy my stuff from CDJapan, but this was years ago and I'm not sure if there's a better option. After awhile, some of the artists I liked offered shipping to the US from their site. I was quite surprised that Spotify had a few artists that I liked.

Like someone above mentioned, I've used Yahoo! Auctions for some older Malice Mizer stuff, but again - I haven't used that in years.

Yesasia had there two older albums and the one I wanted.....saved myself $12 they have free shipping. Will take longer to get obviously....but I'm ok with waiting. Im making a huge list you guys are giving for where to check out getting imports on music. There are some really obscure bands that are not on spoitfy that I need to buy lol. MTH was one of them.

 

[GustyGardens]

Yesasia had there two older albums and the one I wanted.....saved myself $12 they have free shipping. Will take longer to get obviously....but I'm ok with waiting. Im making a huge list you guys are giving for where to check out getting imports on music. There are some really obscure bands that are not on spoitfy that I need to buy lol. MTH was one of them.

I forgot about YesAsia! I don't think I ordered anything from them, though.

I had trouble finding some really obscure bands back in the day, especially when I was trying to get their back catalog. Nil was one of the hardest, but I eventually met a girl that lived in Japan that helped me get a few things, mostly the DVDs. deadman and Gullet gave me a few issues, too.

If they're really indie bands, you can try contacting them through their Facebook or website. I made friends with a few artists that were only playing the Tokyo Dark Castle circuit like that. I really wanted some of their CD's, but they weren't sold anywhere. I asked them if they'd ship to the US and they were quite happy to work something out.

I was also quite lucky to live near a small Japanese record store based in Los Angeles. I picked up first press copies of Moi Dix Mois and Lareine records for like 13 bucks! They all had the gifts that came with the CD's, too! Sadly, it went out of business a few years back and turned into a shoe store.

 

[ThreePiMatt]

I went all the way to Tokyo to buy a couple B'z CDs and I don't even own a CD player outside the one in my car.

 

[hazelnoots]

I havent tried yet but Ive been considering buying used cds from yahoojp auctions via Buyee.

 

[Zeldana]

I would love to see this thread flourish. I like a few japanese bands and going to Tokyo soon . Best independent record stores there would be a start.

Definitely check out Closet Child if they're still open. Off the top of my head I remember there being one in Shinjuku and another in Harajuku. Great prices for secondhand goods (possibly the only way you'll find older releases without resorting to auctions). I must've picked up half of D's discography the first time I visited.

If they're really indie bands, you can try contacting them through their Facebook or website. I made friends with a few artists that were only playing the Tokyo Dark Castle circuit like that. I really wanted some of their CD's, but they weren't sold anywhere. I asked them if they'd ship to the US and they were quite happy to work something out.

...I picked up first press copies of Moi Dix Mois and Lareine records for like 13 bucks!...

I'm so out of the loop I only recognize Aural Vampire and SiSeN out of the DC list. It's been a while, haha.

This reminds me of a few online indie shops we used to frequent years ago that would offer a signed postcard or somesuch other bonus for ordering Types A, B, and C of one album or single release. That got expensive pretty fast @_@

 

[rpmurphy]

What are people's go-to site for ordering doujin albums (M3, Comiket, etc.)? I found Diverse Direct some time ago but don't know if there are better options.

 

[Kurita]

You can simply use Amazon Japan, Cdjapan and HMV Japan. Any other website is a waste of time.
Amazon Japan delivers super fast, I get my stuff under 2 or 3 days.

I havent tried yet but Ive been considering buying used cds from yahoojp auctions via Buyee.

Buyee is basically a guarantee to pay two or three times the price of the original product.

 

[Anko]

For digital stuff, you can try Mora. Digital stores in Japan are locked, and you will need a VPN to get past ip checks. Last I checked, they still accepted foreign issued credit cards but it could change at any moment. Mora also offers high res music if that's your thing. There are a few other shops but I don't remember at the moment.

For physical:

CDJapan offers fast service and flexible shipping options with often the best protection for your CDs in terms of packing. However, they offer CDs at full MSRP and seldom offer them, especially new releases, at a discount. They do however have a points system. Occasionally, you will receive your CD right on the release date (or early if you're lucky) because they ship early. Shipping cost is determined by weight if I am not wrong?option of FedEx, EMS, registered air, etc.

Amazon offers fast shipping with limited options. They may sell some CDs below MSRP but have a nearly nonexistent points system. Sometimes you'll get points, often not. Packing is a hit and miss for me. Sometimes they're sent in an always flimsy box but the contents make it fine. Sometimes they put your shit in an envelope type sleeve that offers literally no protection. I've had my vinyls shipped to me in one of those once. It damaged the outer vinyl cover but not the vinyl itself. Mostly ships on release date. Shipping is based on number of units. Funny thing is if they sell you a set of 30 books, you only need to pay for one unit.

Hmv Japan is often the slowest of the three to ship, shipping on release date if you're lucky, but most likely a day or two after. Like Amazon, they may offer CDs below MSRP. Most of the time, their discount is not as big as Amazon's. They do, however, have a points system and frequent campaigns that can offer you rebates (in the form of coupons) or point bonuses on top of that discount. I just took advantage of a 15% rebate campaign for books. They sometimes offer as much as 20%. Packing wise, it's a mix of urgh to acceptable. Shipping is based on weight and is shipped by EMS.

 

[Red Liquorice]

You can simply use Amazon Japan, Cdjapan and HMV Japan. Any other website is a waste of time.

I've also had a positive experience with Tower Records, but that was about 10 years ago.

I get stuff within 5 days from CDJapan on standard airmail to the UK.

 

[Kurita]

I've also had a positive experience with Tower Records, but that was about 10 years ago.

I get stuff within 5 days from CDJapan on standard airmail to the UK.

Oh yeah well Tower Records is where I buy all my stuff when I'm in Japan but when I'm not I just order on these websites.
Nothing beats the feel of buying new albums one day before the official release at Tower Records, get some cool bonus goodies and stuff. Aw yea

For digital stuff, you can try Mora. Digital stores in Japan are locked, and you will need a VPN to get past ip checks. Last I checked, they still accepted foreign issued credit cards but it could change at any moment. Mora also offers high res music if that's your thing. There are a few other shops but I don't remember at the moment.

No IP checks for Japanese iTunes and Japanese Amazon MP3. I get most of my digital stuff from Japanese Amazon MP3 nowadays cause they take foreign credit cards, as opposed to iTunes where your only option is prepaid cards.

 

[sechsterangriff]

I live in the EU and for new (physical) albums I mainly use CDJapan. They have impeccable service and packaging. Only when they do not have something I want (which is rare), I use Amazon JP instead (more expensive shipping).

For digital I mainly use Ototoy and Mora for hi-res music.
More recently I started to notice more and more Japanese composers/musicians have a presence in Bandcamp, so I started using it more often.

 

[Anko]

Oh yeah well Tower Records is where I buy all my stuff when I'm in Japan but when I'm not I just order on these websites.
Nothing beats the feel of buying new albums one day before the official release at Tower Records, get some cool bonus goodies and stuff. Aw yea


No IP checks for Japanese iTunes and Japanese Amazon MP3. I get most of my digital stuff from Japanese Amazon MP3 nowadays cause they take foreign credit cards, as opposed to iTunes where your only option is prepaid cards.

*opens can of worms* b-b-but MP3!

I'm surprised that Amazon doesn't region block though. I can't buy their kindle stuff and a lot of their items can't be shipped overseas. Games/software being one of the more annoying ones.

 

[faridmon]

I live in the EU and for new (physical) albums I mainly use CDJapan. They have impeccable service and packaging. Only when they do not have something I want (which is rare), I use Amazon JP instead (more expensive shipping).

For digital I mainly use Ototoy and Mora for hi-res music.
More recently I started to notice more and more Japanese composers/musicians have a presence in Bandcamp, so I started using it more often.

How complicated is to download music from Ototoy and Mora? wouldn't mind spending a lot of money for Japanese indies if the buying option is there and easy.

Also, how is the library? is everything on Itunes Japan available there?

 

[storafötter]

Definitely check out Closet Child if they're still open. Off the top of my head I remember there being one in Shinjuku and another in Harajuku. Great prices for secondhand goods (possibly the only way you'll find older releases without resorting to auctions). I must've picked up half of D's discography the first time I visited.


I'm so out of the loop I only recognize Aural Vampire and SiSeN out of the DC list. It's been a while, haha.

This reminds me of a few online indie shops we used to frequent years ago that would offer a signed postcard or somesuch other bonus for ordering Types A, B, and C of one album or single release. That got expensive pretty fast @_@

Thanks a lot, will definitely check that out when in Tokyo.

I used to order directly from the artist and I loved the personal message bands or artist used to give out to limited printed copies. Sure felt special back then

 

[30yearsofhurt]

I think Tower does international deliveries.
I bought some CDs over the internet from them. I think.

 

[Kurita]

How complicated is to download music from Ototoy and Mora? wouldn't mind spending a lot of money for Japanese indies if the buying option is there and easy.

Also, how is the library? is everything on Itunes Japan available there?

Ototoy is super easy, I think they even added English support for registration and payment.
Never tried Mora.

I think Mora's library is like iTunes, Ototoy is more focused on smaller labels, the only majors on the service are Amuse, Avex and Columbia iirc

 

[faridmon]

Ototoy is super easy, I think they even added English support for registration and payment.
Never tried Mora.

I think Mora's library is like iTunes, Ototoy is more focused on smaller labels, the only majors on the service are Amuse, Avex and Columbia iirc

Interesting, but reading your comment about Amazon Japan mp3, makes me want to go for that. They do accept foreign debit and all right?

Because, Amazon, pretty much, have everything.

 

[Yuuichi]

What are people's go-to site for ordering doujin albums (M3, Comiket, etc.)? I found Diverse Direct some time ago but don't know if there are better options.

Diverse Direct is great, unfortunately the only other options in most cases are either:

Hope the cds go up on amazon
Know someone who goes to the event
Or use a proxy to buy from the main doujin distribution sites (toranora, melonbooks, ect.)

 

[Kurita]

Interesting, but reading your comment about Amazon Japan mp3, makes me want to go for that. They do accept foreign debit and all right?

Because, Amazon, pretty much, have everything.

Yeah, you just have to input a bogus Japanese home adress (anything works really). Then you add your card to charge directly your account with Amazon points cause you can't directly use said card to buy the music (for some reason). But at the end of the day it's same thing.
Just click on "Reload your Amazon Gift Card balance"

You want something that costs 2000yen? Just charge your account with 2000yen and you'll be able to buy it.

It's just an additional step that takes 1 minute.

Haven't used iTunes Japan ever since I've discovered this.

 

[faridmon]

Nice. Can see myself going bankrupt from this.

 

[rpmurphy]

Diverse Direct is great, unfortunately the only other options in most cases are either:

Hope the cds go up on amazon
Know someone who goes to the event
Or use a proxy to buy from the main doujin distribution sites (toranora, melonbooks, ect.)

I see, thanks. The proxy isn't too bad but it does kind of suck to need a bunch of things to be ordered around the same time period to make it worth it.

 

[ViciousDS]

So my order just came from yeaasia..... Wasn't really that great speed wise. Took almost 3 weeks.

I did however find the last album I wanted off Amazon Japan and that shit was here within 5 days.....if it wasn't for the weekend I probably could have ordered it Monday and got my item by the weekend that's how fast Amazon international is.


So I am the proud owner of 3 maximum the hormone albums

Dear God they are amazing!!!!

 

[Dio]

Digitally, I buy Japanese music from ototoy and mora.jp.

Physically, I buy my CDs off of CDJapan, and using the proxy service FromJapan to buy things from Amazon Japan, Yahoo Japan Auctions, Book-Off, Mandarake, Suruga-ya and Rakuten.

edit:

Oh, you bumped your topic.

Glad you got what you were looking for.

 

[ViciousDS]

Digitally, I buy Japanese music from ototoy and mora.jp.

Physically, I buy my CDs off of CDJapan, and using the proxy service FromJapan to buy things from Amazon Japan, Yahoo Japan Auctions, Book-Off, Mandarake, Suruga-ya and Rakuten.

edit:

Oh, you bumped your topic.

Glad you got what you were looking for.

yes, figured instead of creating a new one.

But I still have a few questions

does ototoy or mora allow international accounts and billing? I would have no idea how to navigate those sites to buy stuff. I would love to buy digital just to save on shipping.

 

[Laevateinn]

I would love to see this thread flourish. I like a few japanese bands and going to Tokyo soon . Best independent record stores there would be a start.

Look for Disk Union. There's tons of them and they are almost all themed by genre. The ones I went to all had Japanese bands separated from international bands as well.

 

[febLey]

Sorry for the necro.

Do foreign credit card still work with mora.jp?
Which VPN service do you use to purchase there?