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Apple will be so far behind they will wondering why the iPod and iTunes content are not selling as well as expected in Japan. (The iPhone is 2-3 years late for the Japanese market. But that is another debate.)

I've had my Japanese phone for over a year now, and will be so happy to finally get an iPhone. Now to deal with Softbank's bull that foreigners have to go through to get it. :( Seriously, even if I was fluent in Japanese, I'd still pick the iPhone over anything else.

As for buying content from other iTMS, you have to have a credit card of the country you're in. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Luckily you don't have to keep the credit card registered once you set up the account. I had my Japanese boyfriend use his card to set me up an itunes account, and then promptly took it off once the account had been activated. Now I can go buy gift cards here when I want to buy stuff.
 
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