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You may find duty free appliances shop in the airport, Akihabara or in Yokohama. Television with multi systems can be used outside Japan regardless the above mentioned color system. However, some small functions may not be perfect, like bi-lingual system and tuner bands. Again, you can use Japanese domestic tuners to see television programs in Japan.

Plasma or Liquid Crystal?

Plasma displays are bright, have a wide color gamut and can be produced in fairly large sizes, up to 262 cm (103 inches) diagonally. They have a very high "dark-room" contrast, creating the "perfect black" desirable for watching movies. First 2000 hours is its brightest point, however, the display gradually dims thereafter. Plasma display is fragile and difficult to ship and install.
Currently, large televisions are plasma display, and smaller ones are liquid crystal display. But technological progress of liquid crystal is advancing so fast, that larger televisions are available in liquid crystal display, which is more cost effective than plasma display.

Digital Hi-Vision

The advent of digital television enabled two ways of broadcast; one is SDTV, standard definition television, mixing several standard quality images. The other is HDTV, high definition television; broadcast only one high-quality images. Usually English speaking people watch cable TV, which supply mostly SDTV programs (lower definition). So the opportunity of watching digital Hi-vision (HDTV) is very limited. NHK (Japanese national broadcasting) provides Hi-vision program at BS (Broadcast Satellite) channels, some in English.

Multi system television manufacturers

Our best recommendation is Hitachi, because their TV supports France SECAM, as well as NTSC and PAL. Other manufacturers: Panasonic, Toshiba, JVC, Pioneer and SONY.
Audio
Multi stereo sets are available if you want to bring them home. Please note that such multi system stereo’s frequency may not be used in Japan. Japanese FM radio stations send lower frequency than that of the other countries. Stereo comes with many kinds of cables and connectors for amplifier, tuner and speakers. Please check the appliances shop if such cables come free. Home theater system is also subject to voltage and frequency changes as well as radio frequency settings.

DVD expelled VHS videos from the market. One of the most annoying problems for expats who want to see DVDs from their home countries is the Region code. Japanese region code is 2, and DVDs from other regions may not be able to play with Japanese domestic DVD.
REGION 1 -- USA, Canada
REGION 2 -- Japan, Europe, South Africa, Middle East, Greenland
REGION 3 – South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Parts of South East Asia
REGION 4 -- Australia, New Zealand, Latin America (including Mexico)
REGION 5 -- Eastern Europe, Russia, India, Africa
REGION 6 -- China
REGION 7 -- Reserved for Unspecified Special Use
REGION 8 -- Reserved for Cruise Ships, Airlines, etc...
REGION 0 or REGION ALL -- Discs are un-coded and can be played Worldwide,
You may able to find region free DVD players, which can play DVD of other countries, as long as the color system is the same. However, such DVD does not support high-vision nor bi-lingual sound system. Good thing about buying such multi-system and region free appliances is that the instructions come in several languages including English.
Some DVD has recording function and can be used as a tuner. Cheap region free DVD may not have such function.

Cable Television
Most of the houses and apartments for expats already have cable television system. All you need is just plug in the cable to your DVD player or TV tuner. It is worth while to ask the real estate agent or owner to install it if there is none. In the remote area, outside Tokyo, installing satellite dish is an option.

Washer/ Dryer/ Dish washer/ Microwave
Except for microwave, these utility appliances are mostly already installed in apartments and houses for expats. However, in the local areas other than Yokohama and Tokyo, tenants may have to install such appliances, or call Tokyo Lease. Please note that most of the Japanese homes have 100v outlet only. Heating takes so much time and energy, so most of the domestic washing machine just fills cold water. Moreover, Japanese detergents are powerful enough to wash dirty shirt into bright white even with cold water.

Vacuum Cleaner
Do not bring a vacuum cleaner from your home. American vacuum cleaners may work, but in a less powerful way. Dragging a heavy transformer with a vacuum cleaner is almost impossible.
Famous DYSON vacuum cleaner is available in Japan, though expensive. Japanese domestic vacuum cleaners are powerful, clean and relatively not noisy. Most of the cheap domestic vacuum cleaners require disposable paper filter bags.

Electricity in Japan | TV and Other Appliances