UlasanAnime.com – For those wondering why specific Avex products are unavailable for import, further information can be found through these links: [https://blog.sakugabooru.com/2017/02/14/avex-pictures-and-music-import-restrictions/](https://blog.sakugabooru.com/2017/02/14/avex-pictures-and-music-import-restrictions/) or [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/answerman/2017-02-15/.112254](http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/answerman/2017-02-15/.112254). However, it’s probable that these explanations don’t fully capture the situation, as the core reason is likely an internal business decision by Avex. The key facts to consider are:
- Amazon Japan has been canceling or failing to fulfill certain Avex orders, primarily concerning CDs.
- This restriction affects CDs, Blu-rays, and DVDs.
- CD Japan is implementing this ban unilaterally, as announced in their email correspondence.
The theory proposed by Sakugabooru suggests that Avex Japan intends to show deference to Avex Asia and discourage international imports. This reasoning primarily applies to music sales and doesn’t adequately explain why video sales would also be blocked. The price disparity between Japanese releases and those from regions like Taiwan is significant, and the latter often includes Chinese translations. Conversely, some Wonder Girls (WUG) music can be enjoyed without subtitles. Justin from Anime News Network also touched upon aspects unrelated to music sales, concluding that the decision to halt CD sales was a business choice to prioritize regional publishers.
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Avex’s strong international focus is an important aspect to acknowledge, which lends credence to Sakugabooru’s reference to Avex’s investor business deck. Although Avex established a North American entity last year, this move seems contradictory in light of the sales ban. It is probable that an undisclosed internal matter is driving this decision, which will only become clear when other, yet-to-be-announced developments occur.
A significant flaw in these explanations is their failure to address inconsistencies. While international sales might represent a small percentage, the impact on retailers will not be uniform. Retailers will not simply absorb the losses without consequence. Furthermore, we are no longer in an era where e-commerce region-based sales are inherently difficult. Export-oriented retailers stand to lose considerably, with CD Japan likely being the most affected. It’s unlikely that this situation can be dismissed unless one is an Avex executive willing to make undisclosed concessions. Additionally, this doesn’t explain why CD Japan stated the ban applies to a majority, not all, titles. The production committee rationale alone doesn’t fully account for this.
It is reasonable to assume that multiple factors contribute to the ban, including business strategies, licensing agreements, and the broader industry climate. The focus on anime Blu-ray sales in this discussion seems misplaced, as Avex’s ban primarily impacts their music business. The production committee and anime video licensing perspective also doesn’t quite add up: it’s not as if the committee for “Yuri on Ice” comprises companies that haven’t produced other works with Japanese Blu-ray releases and subsequent exports. While each committee and contract is unique, it seems improbable that such a distinction would exist solely for Avex’s titles. Alternatively, this could indicate issues within a few specific companies that are affecting their broader operations, leading to this outcome.
This situation affects me as much as it does others, particularly fans of Wonder Girls (WUGner), who frequently purchase Avex products. It’s important to understand that this isn’t a reflection of Japanese xenophobia, but rather the Japanese music industry’s outdated approach to internationalization. While xenophobia might be an underlying factor, it doesn’t address the specific issues at hand. This has no bearing on the few eroge developers who have banned exports; it’s quite peculiar that some would draw parallels with companies like Visual Arts, though perhaps it shouldn’t be entirely surprising.
Your guess regarding Avex’s decision to prohibit retailers from exporting their products is as valid as anyone else’s. While we can speculate on the reasons, it’s highly probable that a single cause isn’t sufficient, given how many of these potential reasons don’t hold up when examined individually.
P.S. I wonder if other affected individuals—and hopefully those genuinely impacted, not just a handful unable to import “Takkyu Musume”—have uncovered more information. Thus far, the personal anecdotes I’ve encountered primarily come from anime Blu-ray importers and WUG fans, representing only a small fraction of those potentially affected.
