Talk:Obi strip

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Contents 1 Function of obi 2 Thanks 3 Value of obi vs. other features 4 The last paragraph

[edit] Function of obi

I registrated that Obis usually (always?) feature a price.

That made me guess, that CD-prices could be fixed in Japan like i.e. book prices in Germany. In this case the Obis could be used as a cheap tool to enforce that fixed price. In the case of a change of that price only the Obis and not the entire CDs would have to be reprinted.

Can anyone comment on this?

More generally, I would be more interested in the function Obis fulfill in Japan, Taiwan and probably other countries than in the perception of Obis by western record nerds.

I would also be interested in the origin of the word.

An Obi 帯 is the belt around kimono though I didn't know yet those were called Obi (in Japan too). The use of the obi is to avoid printing the ugly barcode on the cover itself (indeed it provides additional space for promo). → Tristan ♡ 14:46, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

---

I've found this info in a ebay CD auction (user eil_esprit)

"No-one packages a CD album quite like the Japanese. Known as a culture for elaborate and excessive packaging, their approach to the CD album is no exception. From the visual delights of the artwork and packaging, to the content itself, you will without doubt get your moneys worth here. The inclusion of the famous obi-strip not only adds a uniquely intriguing aspect, but is also a great marketing tool for the Japanese labels. The term obi-strip is derived from the name of the piece of wide fabric - the obi - that a geisha woman wears around her waist over the traditional Kimono dress. An amazing amount of information is packed onto this little wraparound piece of paper, often noting special tracks, concert dates, discography information and release anniversaries. And, as this information is intended to be read in the home market, it’s all printed in Japanese kanji and ~kana script! Whilst they are safely sealed on new release CD’s they are often discarded once opened, so they should be considered a real bonus when intact on out-of-print CD’s.

In recent years we have seen the obi-strip occasionally replaced with a sleeve sticker, no less attractive and equally unique to the Japanese pressing. Japanese CD albums often benefit from extra music and new video-style content, to further entice the Japanese public to buy their native release and not an import. Non-album tracks and exclusive mixes often feature and there are a huge amount of Japan-Only releases that do not have an equivalent release elsewhere in the world. Japanese pressings will nearly always include a lyric booklet or fold-out lyric sheet. These are dual-language, printed in both the ~kana script and in English, the latter often having some wonderful mis-translations!"

[edit] Thanks

Thanks to all of you for the article! It seems to be pretty clear to me. When I lived in Hawaii, I would see these things on albums and never knew what they were. - Thanks, Hoshie 00:57, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Value of obi vs. other features

The article seems to suggest that the extra value of a Japanese edition to collectors lies primarily in the obi strip. However, this is only one of several features that make the Japanese edition of recordings preferable. As compared with western releases, they often contain additional bonus tracks, are usually accompanied by a complete lyric sheet in English with a Japanese translation, and are reputed by hifi connoisseurs to offer better sound quality. The obi is only part of the entire value package. Rodparkes 05:26, 18 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The last paragraph

The last paragraph seems a bit out of place here, especially the last few sentences.

"Recently, Taiwanese perpetrators have been imitating the Japanese tradition by using paper title strips on their releases CDs of western artist's CDs, which are actually EU or US imports (since no CDs are pressed in Taiwan) that are repackaged in Taiwan with their printed in Taiwanese (all kanji with no katakana or hiragana) title strips. Let's not forget this fact. An obi is a term that is unique to Japan only. Much like the term Bourbon Whiskey (It must be made in the USA) The obi like strips on Taiwan or Korean cds cannot be called obi's. They are title strips or whatever they are called in their native language."

For starters, a simple Google search shows as the very first hit for '"obi strip" Taiwan' that Taiwanese releases of CDs have been using these strips since at least the early 90s, which I wouldn't call particularly 'recently'. And is there any evidence that these strips are a uniquely Japanese thing, as is stated here? And if so, is anyone able to add the names of these strips in their respective countries in exchange for that blasé or whatever they are called in their native language? That whole paragraph is bothering me really, it just seems a bit xenophobic, but I'm not sure if any of it is indeed fact or how to really phrase it in a better manner.Popsmin (talk) 03:38, 12 May 2008 (UTC)

The Japanese record industry and music consumers of foreign recording artists have a history of almost a century which I think is much longer than the recent 1990's~ trend of the Taiwanese to copy the Japanese style of the obi. Actually Taiwan was once occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 210.79.170.66 (talk) 20:23, 15 May 2008 (UTC)