Just bought an iPod Touch. I can't buy apps from the app store because I don't have a Japanese credit card. Is there a way around this?

EG. Can I buy credit in Australian dollars and then use that?

OR

Can I buy credit in yen somewhere?

I haven't done a comprehensive check, but I don't think the app store is regionally segregated, so you'd just need to find whatever app you want in your local store and buy it there.

~J

I think you are wrong I'm afraid. I can't see the app I want to buy 大辞林 in the Australian store.

Alternatively, can I get this stuff with Cydia?

Are you sure you can't just use Ma$tercard or Vi$a? They are both pretty universal regardless of currency.

I have a visa and it the error message says it won't work without a Japanese credit card..

thermal Wrote:I think you are wrong I'm afraid. I can't see the app I want to buy 大辞林 in the Australian store.

Alternatively, can I get this stuff with Cydia?

I can get it on the nz app store. dun see why aus wouldnt.

I just had a look, it's in the Australian store...$15.99

OsakaDan Wrote:I just had a look, it's in the Australian store...$15.99

I stand corrected! (Searching for 辞林 wasn't bringing it up, but 大辞林 works)

So can pretty much all the Japanese apps be bought in the foreign stores?

Like I said, I haven't done an app-by-app check (or even an extensive one), but I've gotten a selection of Japanese apps from the US store, not all of which have had an English version.

Likewise with the podcast directory.

~J

App debs can choose which regional app stores in which their product is listed. Since deva normally don't want to limit their market, most choose all of the regions unless licensing issues arise.

If you want to buy from the Japanese AppStore you can buy a iTunes gift card from jlist and use that.

I don't own an iphone or know details first hand, but you need to get an Japanese account which you can fake by getting a prepaid card from jlist:
http://www.jlist.com/PRODUCT/ITUNESCARD

brianobush Wrote:I don't own an iphone or know details first hand, but you need to get an Japanese account which you can fake by getting a prepaid card from jlist:
http://www.jlist.com/PRODUCT/ITUNESCARD

if you don't know what you're talking about why post? Because you don't NEED to buy things from the Japanese app store. You can get them in your countries app store. I've never had a problem with it.

Jarvik7 Wrote:If you want to buy from the Japanese AppStore you can buy a iTunes gift card from joist and use that.

That's what I did as well before I got a Japanese credit card.
They also sell those at combinis

mezbup Wrote:if you don't know what you're talking about why post? Because you don't NEED to buy things from the Japanese app store. You can get them in your countries app store. I've never had a problem with it.

Chill with the attitude. A friend went this route, which is why I stated that "I did not know first hand".

And you do not have access to the same apps someone in Japan with a Japanese account has access to.

mezbup Wrote:if you don't know what you're talking about why post? Because you don't NEED to buy things from the Japanese app store. You can get them in your countries app store. I've never had a problem with it.

Your attitude is really out of line, considering that there ARE apps which are limited to regional app stores, even if the one mentioned by the OP is not. I had to open a Canadian account to get a TV listings app for Canadian tv for example.

You also cannot buy Japanese music from the non-Japanese iTunes stores.

Just to run a quick comparison, I did a search for apps in the US and Japan itunes stores (just looking at apps here) for the term "漢字" (I tried to choose a term we all have an interest in).

Results:

US store = 36 apps
Japan store = 105 apps

So I think it is just possible that there might be some useful things that do not appear in every store.

C.J.

I like that 大辞林 app, though. Nice stuff. The interface is a little odd at first, but it's good stuff once you get the hang of it.