Daryl's Library - Final Fantasy CDs

Soundtracks Arranged CDs Promo/Special CDs CD singles Misc. CDs Sheet music E-mail me == SPECIAL SECTIONS: == Guide to buying game music Sites that sell FF CDs FAQ, translation notes Yahoo Japan tutorial Avex copy-protection issue Glossary of terms Game histories Captain's log Links

Oh yes, here's a *very* interesting FAQ on bootlegs, written for rec.arts.anime.music by Ru Igarashi. This person seems to know quite a lot about the legal issues surrounding bootlegs. It makes for quite an informative read.

• Introduction
• Final Fantasy in a nutshell
• About first pressings, re-releases, and out-of-print stuff
• What are liner notes?
• A note about obis/spine cards
• About CD singles
• About bootlegs
• About TokyoPop and Tofu Records versions
• List of known bootleggers
• So, what are the differences between originals and bootlegs?
• The debate between originals and bootlegs
• Auction warnings
• Where and how to buy CDs
• My opinions on various VGM sites
• List of places to try
• Email me your questions, comments, suggestions, and links to VGM/anime music that you've found! Feel free to send me your comments about various VGM sites, and I'll include them on my page!
• Go to my main FF CD page

Video game music (VGM) is a vast marketplace that hasn't quite hit the States as much as it's overwhelmed Japan. This to me is a real shame. Video games have some *incredible* music. Music captures and sets mood and character, and enhances gaming experience overall.

But more and more, people are listening to video game music for the music itself. If you are a VGM newbie and want to buy music, I suggest you start with games you know and love, because what other people may consider to be superior, you might think is so-so or not even great at all. For example, I think Final Fantasy music is the greatest I've listened to. However, I also judge on a game-by-game basis, and will frankly say that I'm getting a bit disappointed with the FF music as the series goes on. You will hear others praise FF7 and FF8's music, and I respect their opinions. But don't get me on a debate on this; let's just agree that we all have our own opinions, and I am simply stating my own.

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Anyway, down to business. I'm assuming that you've come to my site mainly because you'd like more info on Final Fantasy music in particular, so I'll be talking about that mostly. First, here's a quick rundown of the FF series in Japan and the U.S. I'm using regular numbers, which I feel are easier to read, rather than the Roman numerals. I also started adding info on the European releases, thanks to Stephen W. ^_^

You got all that? Or did I just confuse you more? ^_~ Anyway, you can see how many more Japanese Final Fantasies there are, so it's very easy to get confused when trying to buy FF music. On Daryl's Airship, I use the Japanese numbering, while in my fanfic, I use the American numbering. I know, it gets mixed up, but you'll get it eventually. ^_^

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Most of the older FF CDs had a first-print run published under the name SQUARE BRAND. (A few first-pressings were not under SQUARE BRAND, and a few might not have had special first pressings at all.) They were published not long after their respective games came out. These usually come in cool-looking thick cardboard cases that don't snap shut; they open like you'd open a book. (Some, however, do have jewel cases.) Liner notes are glued to the inside front cover. Their catalog numbers are usually N***-0***.

To get an idea of how the first pressings look like, look at a SonMay (SM) CD. (For more about SM and EverAnime, see my About bootlegs section.) I'm guessing that SM released their CDs very soon after the first pressings, because their CDs are modeled after those first pressings. Click here for a picture to compare the SM FF5 "Dear Friends" CD, the SQUARE BRAND Dear Friends, the NTT Dear Friends, and the EverAnime Dear Friends. You'll see what I mean.

First pressings are sometimes very subtle. For example, the FF6 OSV had a first pressing that had a sticker on the shrinkwrap and included a piece of Amano art with Edgar and Terra. The FF Tactics first pressing included a Moogle character card.

Sometime in 1994, Square re-released the earlier FF CDs under Polystar or NTT Publishing. These are the more common PSCN- or PSCR-numbered ones, and all the release dates are very close to each other -- some even on the same day. The Final Fantasy piano collections were also re-released. However, after 1994, there were no longer any SQUARE BRAND products, so FF6 music and all its spinoffs (including the FF6 Piano Collections) have only the NTT versions.

When FF7 came out, Square got the brilliant idea of making limited editions. Not many people know there was a limited edition of the FF7 OST. After that, they started making limited editions of nearly all the FF CDs. The limited editions have the same release date and usually the same catalog numbers as regular editions, but are different in some obvious way that distinguishes it from regular editions. (FF8 Piano Collections is one exception; once the slipcase is off, you can't tell which is the limited and which isn't.)

There's a difference between "out of print" status and actual availability. Sites may bill a CD to be out of print and yet still have it available for sale. If you've read this FAQ before, you may remember I said something about two dates listed on the back of most CDs, in which one date is two years later than the first. The earlier date is the release date. And according to this FAQ for rec.arts.anime.music written by Ru Igarashi, and I quote:

The so-called 2-year limit refers to the regulation period that the first release price lasts (for "price protection"). After that period expires, retailers can reduce the price.

Some people are under the impression this period refers to when the CDs are forced out of print. They are totally wrong. Anime CDs have a limited market viability, so by coincidence, some anime CDs go out of print in 2 years. But some remain in print longer than that.

Why are two prices shown on the back of my CD? The smaller of the two is the base price of the CD. The larger includes a "value added tax" (VAT), which is what must actually be initially charged for the CD (as per "2-year limit").

Talking about out-of-prints, many FF SonMay CDs are, strangely, out of print. I guess that's why EverAnime starting horning in on things. For more on SM and EA, read my About bootlegs section.

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Yeah, I've gotten this question before, and I can't fault anyone for not knowing what they are, seeing as I've called them by a various number of incorrect terms over the years. ^_~ Anyway, liner notes are those small booklets that usually come inside CD jewel cases and may include things like lyrics, production credits, photos, etc.

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In the more widely known sense, obis are the wide sashes worn with a kimono around the waist. In terms of publishing, an obi, also called a spine card, is a little slip of paper that comes wrapped around the joint of the CD, most often on the left side. Some obis go across the top of the CD like the Legend of Mana soundtrack, and I've even seen one on the right side (that was the Oh My Goddess movie soundtrack). Generally, any piece of paper that comes wrapped around part of the jewel case -- even a huge one like what the 20020220 concert CD came with -- is referred to as an obi.

Obis are included with most books, magazines, and CDs released in Japan. The ones with books and magazines are usually wrapped around the lower part of the publication. CDs from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China also often have them, as evidenced by the bootlegs available. Obis give info about the item and sometimes act as little ads; they'll advertise related works that are available for sale. For example, the obis of the Final Fantasy Piano Collections reissues have info on the other piano collections.

Value-wise, there really isn't a market for obis, as many people will probably throw them away without a second thought. Obis are valued mainly by collectors such as myself. I do not consider a CD complete unless it includes the obi, and I will offer more for a CD that has the obi in good condition. (Yes, I keep my obis; I have a whole box of them right now. ^_~ )

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If you've never seen Japanese singles before, they're usually three inches in diameter and come in cardboard covers measuring 2.375 inches by 6.5 inches. Some CD singles look like U.S. ones, being the full 5 inches in plastic jewel cases. Some are 3-inchers in full-size jewel cases. However, more and more Japanese CD singles are going over to the 5-inch size, so you may no longer see the 3-inch ones in a few years.

The pre-FF8 CD singles had music from their respective games, plus original music. That original music couldn't be found anywhere else until F.F. Mix came out, which collected all the unreleased CD single tracks into one CD. Only FF6 Special Tracks has all original music that to this day cannot be found on any other CD.

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Bootlegs are, according to dictionary definition, "goods smuggled or illicitly produced or sold" (Reader's Digest Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1987). In the context of CDs, bootlegs are professional, unauthorized copies made of authorized CDs. They're actually pressed and not simply "burned."

Thanks to David Goodwin, I have some clearer information on the terminology. What are usually referred to as "bootlegs" are actually almost always "pirated" CDs. From the same dictionary, a pirate is "one who makes use of or reproduces the work, especially the copyrighted material, of another, illicitly or without permission." This, of course, is what companies in Hong Kong, Taiwan and other countries mainly do, so the correct term for them is "pirate" and their products are more correctly called "pirated CDs." Compilation CDs also fall under this category.

"Bootleg," on the other hand, refers to recordings of live performances and other such things that would not normally have official releases.

However, because the term "bootleg" has become so ingrained in people's minds, I will continue to use the term. It may sound weird, especially when I mix the two terms, but I know you'll understand. ^_^

The two most popular companies that have pirated FF CDs are SonMay (SM) and EverAnime (EA), both of which are in Taiwan. SM has been around for some time. EA seems to have popped up back in late 1999; I remember the first eBay auction I saw of an EA FF CD (got all those acronyms? ^_~). It was of Grand Finale, and I seriously thought it was an original. After that, EA became very widespread.

Now why, you may ask, are Taiwan companies pirating CDs? Here's the situation in a nutshell, most of which is from my own cursory research, so if I've got some details incorrect, please email me, preferably with a link to the Website from which you got your info. I will correct my information once I verify the accuracy of the details you send me. (This 5/9/02 update is dedicated to Stephen, who will no doubt be emailing me soon to point out my factual errors. ^_~ )

There is a treaty, called the Berne Convention, between certain countries resulting from a series of conventions that was first held in 1886. It's called the "Berne" Convention because the treaty was first signed in Berne, Germany, in 1886. Successive conventions have updated and revised the treaty, and I believe the latest revision is dated 1979. These conventions hold that a copyrighted work in one member country will be recognized by other member countries. The owner's copyright lasts for his/her lifespan plus 75 years after his/her death. (I believe current U.S. law holds that the copyright lasts for only 50 years after death; I'm not sure if the law was changed.) I believe that at last count, 96 countries had signed the Berne treaty.

Taiwan and China did not sign the Berne Convention and so were not bound by its restrictions. Therefore, in these countries, it was legal to reproduce a person's work (including music, books, software...) without having to go through the legal channels of getting a license, paying royalties to the creator, etc. This is why bootlegging and piracy are rampant in Taiwan and China.

However, so I am told, Taiwan and China joined the World Trade Organization in November 2001, and the WTO has strict rules about intellectual property and copyrights. What does this mean? It means that Taiwan and China are now obligated, under WTO rules, to outlaw piracy and crack down on it.

One thing that must be made clear is that the Berne Convention is, strictly speaking, *not* a part of the WTO. The Berne treaty existed before the WTO (the WTO was established in 1995). However, according to the WTO website, the WTO's rules on intellectual property are stricter than those laid out in the Berne Convention.

This, to me, presents an interesting dilemma. If a country signed the Berne Convention but is not a WTO member, then that country follows rules that are supposedly more lax. Of course, this is a moot point if all the Berne signees are also WTO members (but do you realize how amazingly difficult it is to find on the 'Net who signed the Berne treaty?! It's incredible...).

With all that said...I first encountered bootlegs when I bought the FF6 OSV. I inadvertently bought the SM version. I didn't think much of the issue, because they were the first VGM I owned, and I wasn't even aware that there *was* an issue. (And, as I have discovered, that is how most other people learn about the issue, as well.) Then I came across the original Japan release, and to say the least, I was stunned. I let a friend listen to both releases, and he came back a few weeks later saying that the SM CDs sounded slightly inferior, but that was because he'd played them on a really good sound system. For most of us, who use regular CD players or boomboxes, it probably won't make much of a sound difference.

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TokyoPop (www.tokyopop.com) and Tofu Records (www.tofurecords.com) are American companies that sell licensed versions of various game and anime soundtracks. In connection with Final Fantasy, their CDs are usually abridged versions of the original DigiCube releases. (If you compare the tracklists of the FF10 CDs, you'll see what I mean.)

Now, these TokyoPop and Tofu Records CDs *are* "official" soundtracks in that they are legally recognized and licensed for sale in America; they are not bootlegs. However, they are not the official *Japanese* soundtracks.

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Smile Face International Records: I just recently found this on eBay. Bootleggers seem to be getting more sophisticated in their company names, now.

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So, what are the differences between originals and bootlegs?

Too numerous to mention in this small space! *laugh* Answering that question is the very reason I set up my main CD site. However, there are a few generalizations that I can make.

SM CDs and liner notes look generally like the originals, but SM does not use some of the art found in the liner notes of the Japan pressings. In contrast, EA CDs are almost exactly like the originals, down to the liner notes. The reproduction with EA is rather blurry, especially the text; it's still legible, but the blurriness is obvious. SM, too, doesn't have very crisp reproductions of the art, but the text is better than EA's. (Personally, I think EA's reproductions of the FF logos and fonts are *horrendous*! The logos are oversized and too dark, and the font just looks....off. If you ever get a chance to compare the actual products rather than just scans, you'll see what I mean.)

As an example, click here for a picture to compare the covers of the SM FF5 "Dear Friends" CD, the SQUARE BRAND Dear Friends, the NTT Dear Friends, and the EverAnime Dear Friends.

The Taiwan companies usually include customer survey cards with their CDs, written in Chinese. SM often includes other things like stickers, which seem to be randomly placed; my copy of the SM Dear Friends has a sticker of the ChronoTrigger logo.

The best way to tell a Taiwan bootleg from a Japanese release is by checking catalog numbers. Each company uses a small pool of catalog prefixes, so it'll take no time at all before you come to differentiate CDs just by being told the catalog number.

Something funny. EA CDs have this warning on them: "All rights of the producer and of the owner of the work reproduced reserved. Unauthorized copying, hiring, lending, public performance, and broadcasting of this recording prohibited." Hmm...a bit hypocritical, don't you think? ^_~

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The debate between originals and bootlegs

Before you go shopping, decide whether you'd like the original Japan releases or wouldn't mind getting bootlegs. It's only fair, though, to warn you of the pros and cons of each choice.

Original Japan releases are great. They have all the liner notes, artwork and music you'd want. They're the ORIGINALS, for crying out loud! The only thing is...they're also pretty expensive! A shrinkwrapped FF4 Celtic Moon sells for about $27.99, not including shipping.

On the other hand, bootlegs are cheap. You can find a ton of them on eBay, shrinkwrapped, for $15 or less, not including shipping. But, as said earlier, they either don't have all the art or are really blurry. But more importantly, because those copies were not authorized, no royalties go to the music's composer. That is most people's argument against bootlegs, because most fans heartily support their favorite VGM composers.

Now, I'm not saying you're evil if you would like to spend less to get bootlegs, or that you're throwing away your money if you want to spend more to get originals. Each view has its pros and cons, and what you get ultimately depends on your situation and personal preferences.

I often run into the "originals vs. bootlegs" debate. I do own bootlegs, so as to be able to describe them fully. Lately, though, I realized I couldn't find many new SM CDs. So I posted a question to a bulletin board, asking for sites that sold SM. I wasn't *quite* prepared for the flood of negative responses that I'd get! But I think the responses show how divisive the debate is. Click here for a picture of how the BB looked at the height of glory of my request. The print is small, but if you read carefully, you can see some of the rather immature responses I received (although I will say they were probably "knee-jerk" reactions). ^_~

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Auction warnings

There are a lot of CD-Rs of soundtracks popping up on eBay in which the seller does not specifically state that they are copies and NOT original releases. I personally don't object to selling CD-Rs, but ONLY if it's CLEARLY stated that the CD is a copy. It's impossible to keep kicking these people off, although a few courageous souls have taken up the crusade. Even if I had the time to keep track of the people selling these CD-Rs, I wouldn't be able to document everyone.

The next best thing I can do is offer you advice. If the seller has some kind of weird picture illustrating their auction, EMAIL THE SELLER AND ASK FOR DETAILS ON THE PRODUCT. Ask for a catalog number (one seller didn't know what the heck I was talking about when I asked that question). Be blunt and ask outright: "Are you selling an original release, or is this a burned/CD-R copy?" Don't be ashamed to do so. After all, if the seller is legit, then he/she won't have any qualms giving specific details. I asked this one seller what inserts the CD came with, and they COMPLETELY dodged my question but pretty much admitted to it being a CD-R when they said they made their own covers and tracklists.

In general, if the auction is being illustrated by some weird picture, be wary. If the auction is advertising a "full soundtrack" with only 20 tracks when you know quite well there are supposed to be 80 songs, be wary. With any new seller that you haven't bought from and have not yet established a trust relationship, be wary. Seek opinions of people knowledgeable about VGM. IF IN DOUBT, DON'T BID!

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Where and how to buy CDs

First, a basic checklist before you buy:

• How much are you looking to spend? -- which leads to...
• Do you want originals or bootlegs?
• If it says the CD is an "import," ASK THE SELLER WHAT THAT MEANS!! CDs from Taiwan are also called "imports," and that is correct, although in this case it might mislead you into thinking it's an original JAPAN import/release. This leads to...
• What is the producing company or catalog number of the CD?
• Do you want shrinkwrapped, or would you settle for used?
• (For used CDs) What is the condition of the CD?

Some advanced questions that most likely wouldn't matter to you if you're just buying for the music, but might matter if you're a die-hard collector like me who's real anal about condition and completeness (although I don't think anyone in this *universe* is as anal as I am about VGM completeness ^_~):

• Does the CD have the spine card (also known as an obi)?
• What is the condition of the spine card?
• Does it have the liner notes?
• What is the condition of the liner notes?
• Does it have all inserts, stickers, etc.?
• Does it have the customer survey card?
• Is it a first pressing?

First of all, check your local import and anime stores. Also check Tower Records, Virgin Megastore, and any other large music store in your area. I've heard BestBuy also carries VGM. I highly doubt Borders, Barnes and Noble, Kmart, or Wal-Mart carries VGM, but if you want to check, it's worth a shot. ^_^ Call them to see if they have international music or j-pop (Japanese pop) sections. VGM and anime stuff is usually in j-pop. If they don't know what that is, chances are they don't have it. ^_~

Now on to the vast realm of the Internet. I've bought CDs from VGM sites, from individuals, and through auction. VGM sites are the way to go; my opinions on some of them are listed in the next section, or just jump straight to a list of places to try. I've never advertised on newsgroups for FF CDs, but if all else fails, you might want to try them.

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My opinions on various VGM sites and sellers
revised Feb. 25, 2007
- updated some comments


Now for the most important part: what sites to actually buy from! ^_^ I've dealt with quite a bit of people and sites and have formed opinions of them. I've also heard others' opinions, which I will summarize if possible. Again, these are my own opinions and the ratings are based on my personal experiences. I will revise my opinions as I deal with sites more. I base my ratings on overall quality of service, stock, ease of ordering, ease of navigating site, available shipping methods, available payment options, and past experience. However, for the past several years I've been buying almost exclusively from CD Japan, although I'm starting to buy a lot more from Play-Asia.

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Play-Asia.com - www.play-asia.com

An excellent site that I discovered late in 2006, they have not only Japanese video games and game soundtracks, they also have lots of cool game-related toys and collectibles, Japanese game consoles and accessories. They also have lots of anime and Jpop CDs and Asian movies. They aren't based in the U.S., though, so you will have to pay airmail shipping. They have great service and send you an e-mail when your order has been shipped.

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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CD Japan - http://www.cdjapan.co.jp
Based in Japan, this site has very good stock and excellent service. The only caveats are: 1. Shipping. It's pretty expensive because it's overseas, although they have lowered their shipping rates somewhat. I paid nearly $30 in shipping costs for the FF9 OSV (which is four discs) and a couple other CDs. 2. Currency. All their prices are listed in yen, and at the time you place an order, they'll convert it. It fluctuates depending on the day's yen-to-dollar ratio, so if the yen is weak, that's the best time to order. Their service is fast and reliable, even with preorders; they get CDs on the day of their release and ship immediately, unless you're waiting on some future release. They recently overhauled their site, but in my opinion, the old site was better. Their cart system is excellent, easy to use, and very user-friendly. They also now have a points system in which you get points for each purchase that you can redeem for discounts on future purchases, and sometimes have clearance sales.

I highly recommend you subscribe to their mailing list, in which they tell you what CDs and DVDs will be coming out soon. Click on "CD Japan Newsmail" in their navigation bar and follow the instructions to sign up. I give this site top marks for its service and stock!

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Gamemusic.com - http://www.gamemusic.com
An EXCELLENT site, with great service and fast shipping on in-stock items. They used to sell all SMs, but now most of the Final Fantasy stock has switched to original Japanese releases. The only thing is that they still list some CDs (although they say clearly "out of stock") that they'll probably never get again, such as the FF6 piano collections. Prices are reasonable, no more than what's expected for Japan releases, and shipping is reasonable. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you sign up for their e-mail list to be informed of new stock, especially when they get limited pressings. This is how I was able to get my FF6 piano collections. I will always love this site for that. ^_^

Blade9274 says: "I ordered from Gamecave/Express.com and it took them two months for them to get me a part of my order and another two months to get me the rest. Now I order from gamemusic.com and it takes only two weeks.Since they update their webpage the shopper knows what is in stock to be bought. Gamemusic.com is one of the best sites to order from."

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Animenation - http://www.animenation.com
This site used to be very good at updating their stock. But for some reason, they changed it so they no longer show if an item is in stock. Not only that, they now have a rather irritating cart system through Yahoo that, in my opinion, is much WORSE than their old system. In addition, they do not verify if something is in stock before you pay; you have to pay *first*, and if the CD's not in stock, they'll issue you a refund. That system's annoying, but barring that, this is one of the better VGM sites out there. They sell all originals and have a revamped search engine. Their site can be slow and makes it seem as if your computer froze. I have ordered from them many times, and they have great service and fast delivery. I do recommend you sign up for their e-mail list.

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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SynSONIQ - http://www.synsoniq.com
This site is based in Germany and has an English and German-language site, so you don't need to worry. ^_^ This site is great for getting European releases of VGM. I bought my Zelda vol. 2: The Lost Tracks from here. Caveats: 1. Prices are quoted in Deutsche marks. 2. This site is geared more toward selling to people within Europe. So most options, such as personal check or money order, are not available to non-European residents. If you're not in Europe, the only way to buy from them is to use a credit card, which will be billed in marks. But overall, it has good communication and amazingly fast shipping, even from Germany.

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Otaku.com and Otaku.com UK - http://www.otaku.com and http://www.otaku.co.uk
Otaku.com is based in Japan; the other is in the UK. I once heard complaints about this site in its early years, but they've cleaned up their act since then and have become an excellent source for CDs. Shipping is free for DVDs and CDs within the UK from their UK site. They also auction CDs on eBay and Yahoo under various user names and they're reliable in terms of shipping.

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Y's Shop - http://www.ysshop.com
This website is run by an individual going by the eBay user id "yawara," and you can check his auction offerings under that name. One small thing about Y's shop is that it linked to pictures on a popular website that has since gone down, so most of the pictures are not available. (Blame Simplenet for the death of Amber's site. ^_~) Another thing is that Yawara's storefront seems to keep changing URLs; I'm hoping he keeps it at this URL so I don't go crazy trying to figure out where it's moved to. ^_~ It's probably best to e-mail him directly and give him your request. He sells a lot of rare FF CDs and singles, as well as Dragon Quest stuff and other rare CDs, such as the Orchestral Game Concerts and original FF Piano Collections. I've bought quite a few rare CDs from him. Excellent communication and shipping. I give him top marks for his service, CD offerings (even though it changes a lot), and especially his prices!

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Wizzywig Collectibles - http://www.wizzywig.com
I ordered from this site a couple of times. It has a decent stock (all bootlegs, however), although its site is rather confusing to navigate. Good communication and shipping. If you're in Michigan, you might want to check out their actual store.

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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eBay auction site - http://www.ebay.com
Most of my rare CDs I have bought at auction. But if you're looking for cheap bootlegs, this is also the place to go. At any given time, you'll have a ton of people selling shrinkwrapped EverAnime CDs. A few sellers even offer free shipping. Be careful of any auction that says it's an "import" CD, because that could mean they're simply bootlegs "imported" from Taiwan. Always ask for a catalog number or producing company.

Here's a hint: Look for sellers using Dutch auctions. You'll find an explanation of Dutch auctions at eBay, but if you're seriously confused about it, you can e-mail me and I'll try to explain it clearly. I also have several trustworthy eBay sellers here in my list.

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Yahoo Japan auction site - http://auctions.yahoo.co.jp. Requires browser capable of reading Japanese characters. Read my YJ tutorial from more on how to get stuff through YJ.

Yahoo Japan is a *treasure trove* of Final Fantasy CDs! The site is intended for people in Japan to sell stuff to each other, so the main caveats are: 1. Most sellers will NOT ship internationally. So you'll have to find someone in Japan who'll act as middleman. 2. Shipping prices. I've often bought from people in Japan, and they usually charge about $15 for express international mail service (EMS). I don't know what the limits on EMS are, though. 3. The site itself. You'll need a browser capable of reading Japanese characters. (Well, you don't NEED one; you COULD type "Final Fantasy" in the search box in English. I've done that before, and came up with a decent number of hits. But your hits will soar if you can type in Japanese characters.) Or, you can use a Japanese mediator such as Shodouka as a gateway to viewing the site. And even after that, you'll have to be able to READ and UNDERSTAND, because not everyone puts pictures with their auctions. *sigh*

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Sakura Media - http://www.sakuramedia.com
Based in Canada, this is a very good site for the bootleg collector like me. ^_~ They have a huge stock of bootleg CD selections, although they also stock some original Japanese releases. They also have a great stock of anime and manga artbooks. Their prices are in Canadian dollars, and they don't price their stuff higher to meet U.S. dollars, so it's overall a *great* deal for U.S. customers. I highly recommend you check their sale list every few days; it's HUGE, it changes often, AND they list rare Japanese CDs from time to time. Their cart system is decent and they have a good search engine, although the site slows down quite a bit. I've ordered from them several times, and they're very prompt with delivery.

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Soundtrack Central marketplace forum - http://altpop.com/stc/forum/forum.mv?forum=market
This is a resource that I haven't listed for some time because it's rather erratic. ^_^ This forum is populated with game and anime music fans who are rather adamant against bootlegs. If you're looking for *really* rare CDs, post a request here, and you'll probably find people who would be willing to at least make CD-Rs. This site also has game and anime music forums that you can post on if there's some kind of information you're seeking. Oh, one caveat: The issue of originals vs. bootlegs is a *very* touchy subject here, so unless there's something you're REALLY, SERIOUSLY DYING to know about bootlegs that my FAQ doesn't answer or that I can't answer myself, I suggest you not broach the subject. ^_~

Most people here sell only original Japanese CDs, although some will sell bootlegs. However, such sellers will most likely identify bootleg items as such. I've dealt with many people on this forum and have not had trouble. [ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Ark Square - http://www.arksquare.com
I discovered this site some time ago and ordered a few times, but I haven't checked it out recently. It has good stock and very good service. However, their cart system is annoying; once you put an item into your basket, you can't take it out. Also, its listings may not accurately reflect their stock; several times when I've ordered, my confirmation email said several CDs were not in stock. I don't know if they'll eventually get those CDs, or if the CDs are listed just to get our hopes up. ^_~

Another caveat is that the site charges your credit card at the time you place your order. They do NOT wait until they can verify what is in stock. To avoid this, I suggest paying by international postal money order. Yeah, it's a hassle, but that way, they send you an email telling you what's in stock.

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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eBay seller "coco74" - Read her eBay About Me page
A prolific eBay seller of rare game and anime CDs is a woman in Japan who goes by the id "coco74." I am putting her on this list partly because she is an excellent seller, very friendly, and can find a good number of rare CDs, and partly because she has come under attack on eBay recently. She has been plagued by a LOT of deadbeat bidders, impossibly high bids, and auction cancellations. I don't auction as much as she does and I usually get a few deadbeat bidders in my auction blocs, so I can imagine how many Coco (that's not her real name, by the way) must have.

One example of an impossibly high bid came with a Mother (Earthbound) CD soundtrack. (I hope to have a picture up soon of the bidding history for that particular auction.) Suffice to say that I'm pretty sure the two highest bidders were the same person (both of them have AOL addresses -- I'm surprised AOL hasn't gotten more flak for allowing its members five email addys each), and the price got jacked up to $1,000. Yes, that's one thousand dollars. Then the person retracted both bids with the lame excuse of "I bid too much." I wonder what would have happened if the bidder had won the auction at $1,000 -- I imagine he would have joined the list of deadbeat bidders.

Her auctions have also been cancelled for selling "potentially infringing items." Let me say now that she sells ONLY ORIGINAL JAPANESE RELEASES. She does NOT sell Taiwanese bootlegs. (For more on bootlegs, check my About bootlegs section.) On any given day, you can find sellers selling a TON of bootleg CDs, and THEIR auctions don't get cancelled! And the sad truth is, if her auctions are cancelled, that is more money Coco has to spend in re-listing, while the prolific bootleg sellers can just shrug off their auction cancellations because they can sell a whole lot more. And really, the losers are ultimately we who are looking for those rare CDs.

Because she sells only originals, you can understand why her prices start off pretty high. In general, I have found her starting prices to be very reasonable, given the excellent condition and rarity of these CDs. One bidder who apparently didn't understand this gave Coco her sole negative feedback. The bidder won a Dracula New Classic for only $44 (yes, that's forty-four dollars) -- and if you don't know how rare this CD is, I can tell you from experience that the demand for this CD is EXTREMELY HIGH and can get *very* messy. Whenever it comes up for auction, the final bid goes into the HUNDREDS of dollars. Once it even broke the thousand-dollar barrier. The bidder had specifically requested her to find this CD, then apparently thought Coco was cheating him when she said the CD cost $300 (yes, that's three hundred dollars).

ANYWAY, my main point is...if you're looking for rare game and anime CDs, you should check Coco's listings every so often. Read her eBay About Me page for more information. You can also email her directly with requests, although with what happened in the Dracula New Classic auction, she might become a bit tougher with requests. She is very friendly, very accommodating, excellent with communication and shipping, and she is one of the few trustworthy outlets we poor souls outside of Japan have to get rare CDs. So please....treat her nicely. ^_^

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Middleman Jyosui - email him at this address.
Jyosui says he is willing to act as a middleman for sellers on Yahoo Japan who will not ship internationally. His fees include $15 per auction. Email him for more information. He also has a website that details his fees, but I don't have the URL right now.

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Middleman J. Llama - email him at this address
Jerold Llama is another person who is willing to be a middleman for Yahoo Japan auctions. His fees are much the same as Jyosui's. I've gotten a lot of stuff through both Jyosui and Jerold, and they're reliable, trustworthy and fast with shipping. ^_^

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Anime Solutions - http://www.animesolutions.com
I haven't bought from this site before, but reader YWing tells me: "They sell cheap EverAnime bootlegs. It can take a while for new releases to become available there. Also, I've never had a problem, but their site states that items are unreturnable and unrefundable no matter the circumstances."

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Yesasia.com - http://www.yesasia.com
This site stocks quite a bit of game and anime CDs, including Final Fantasy, in addition to its main jpop and Asian pop collections. They used to sell bootlegs, but now it looks like most of their CDs, including their Final Fantasy stock, are original Japanese releases. They have a good cart system and search engine, but I have yet to figure out how to get to their anime/game listings without having to first do a title search. They're also very good at updating their stock -- it seems they update their pages in real time, in fact -- and have a good amount of information about each CD, including tracklists (which are all in Japanese, though). Reasonable shipping rates and prompt with shipping.

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Various Yahoo Japan sellers
I'll start making a list of Yahoo Japan CD sellers who do ship internationally; I know at least two who do so, but their user ids slip my mind right now. I have not yet personally bought from any of these sellers, so I can't comment on them. Feel free to send me your comments if you've dealt with any of these sellers.

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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Tower Records - http://www.towerrecords.com
Do a title search for "Final Fantasy" and you'll find quite a bit of CDs, both in and out of stock. Not too reliable in terms of finding most of what you may want actually in stock, but it's an alternative. A bit pricey, but their service is very good.

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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GK World - http://www.gkworld.com
This place sells all bootlegs and also auctions its wares on ebay under the user id "gkworld.com". I've ordered from them a couple of times before; good service, fast shipping. Prices are very good for bootlegs -- most of the single CDs at their site are $10 each, so if you do want to buy from them, I recommend going straight to their site and NOT using "Buy It Now" on their auctions. I'm wondering why in heaven these people are listing so much on eBay if the prices are all the same...

[ Go to the list of sites to buy from ]

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List of places to try
Last updated October 17, 2009

Listed in alphabetical order

For original Japanese releases:

• Animebooks.com - for sheet music and artbooks
• Anime Gamers - they seem to sell all originals. Also sells some piano books
• AnimeNation - read my comments
• Ark Square - read my comments
• CD Japan - read my comments
• eBay seller coco74 - PLEASE, PLEASE read my comments
• Gamemusic Online - read my comments
• Jpophelp - sells both bootlegs AND original Japanese releases; make sure to check the catalog numbers!! Do a search for "Final Fantasy" on their site
• Middleman Jyosui - A person willing to act as a go-between if there is something on Yahoo Japan that's caught your eye. Email him for his fees and terms. Read my comments
• Middleman J. Llama - Another person willing to act as a go-between for stuff on Yahoo Japan. Email him for his fees and terms. Read my comments
• Nippon Export - also sells piano books. Based in Japan, with prices in yen
• Otaku.com and Otaku.com UK - read my comments
• Otokichi Premium - secondhand shop site based in Japan. Prices in yen
• Play-Asia - rather cheap shipping costs, good service. Read my comments
• Soundtrack Central marketplace forum - read my comments
• SynSONIQ - read my comments
• Tower Records - read my comments
• Y's Shop - read my comments
• Yahoo Japan auction site: Requires a Japanese-language-capable browser, or go through Shodouka or Monash University Japanese WWW Page Viewer as a gateway. - Read my Yahoo Japan tutorial or my comments
• Yesasia.com - read my comments

For bootleg releases:

• Anime Castle
• Anime Palace
• Anime Plus
• Anime Solutions - read a fan's comments
• Banzai Anime
• Buy N Shop
• Discount Anime DVD - sells bootlegs only, even though the CDs are marked "import." Yes, they are indeed imports, but they're imported from Taiwan.
• eBay auctions - read my comments
• GK World - read my comments
• Sakura Media - read my comments
• Wizzywig Collectibles - read my comments

Other places, with mixed results depending on whom you deal with:

• rec.arts.anime.music
  
• rec.arts.anime.marketplace
  
• alt.games.final-fantasy.music
  
• alt.games.final-fantasy - I don't recommend posting to this NG; it's mostly a discussion forum for FF. There's really no game music marketplace NG. I include it just to let you know there *are* FF NGs. Hmm...if I knew how to create newsgroups, I'd create it....^_~

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And that's it! Good luck in starting or adding to your VGM collection! Feel free to e-mail me your questions and comments!

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Back to the main Final Fantasy CD page

Last revised April 27, 2008