How to buy an original Japanese pressing

The vocabulary

Obi帯

The paper strip wrapped around the left side of a Japanese LP or CD. It carries the title in Japanese, the price and the catalog number. Records missing their obi typically sell for considerably less, so always ask.

Catalog number規格番号

The label’s product code, printed on the spine, labels and obi. It is the single fastest way to identify a specific release — and the reason every album on this wiki lists one.

Promo / white label見本盤

Promotional copies sent to radio and shops, usually with a white or differently coloured label marked 見本盤 or “Sample — not for sale”. Many collectors prize them as early pressings.

Insert / lyric sheet歌詞カード

Japanese pressings usually include a printed lyric and credits sheet. A complete copy has it; a missing insert is a fault worth noting.

Matrix / runoutマトリクス

The code etched in the run-out groove near the label. Different stampers and cuttings can be distinguished here, which matters when one pressing sounds better than another.

Reissue再発

A later pressing. Reissues can be excellent, but they are a different product: look for later catalog prefixes, newer price codes on the obi, or explicit “reissue” notes.