In the world of visual kei, “press” and “type” are treated as two different attributes. This may be little more than a marketing tactic, but we respect the delineation nonetheless.
Types
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Type describes multiple versions of a release which were planned, announced, and released at the same time. The versions usually differ in content (bonus tracks, additional footage) and/or packaging (cover art, case type). Common examples of types are TYPE-A and TYPE-B, or Tsuujouban (通常盤) and Shokaiban (初回盤).
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Always use the “most official” type name. This information can usually be found on the title strip of the release or on flyers promoting the release. If the type name is written in kanji, romanize it rather than translating it.
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Note that Japanese type names do not translate neatly into English. For example, Shokaiban (初回盤) is often translated as “first press” but it is almost always an indicator of type.
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In the event that the band has not specified an official type name, use the shortest possible differentiation, such as Aka (赤) for a red cover, or A, B, and C if details about the differences are unknown.
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If a release has multiple covers, these should usually be considered separate types. Different inclusions (such as 1 random trading card of 5 possible) do not generally qualify as a separate type.
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Digital releases should be considered a separate type if their content differs from the physical release. If the digital type does not have an official type name, Haishinban (配信盤) is acceptable.
- Although types are usually released on the same day, this is not always the case. For example, bands often freely distribute separate types of a single release over three separate lives.
Presses
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Press describes an additional printing of a release which is planned separately from the initial press. These are generally released later and indicate that the initial release sold out. Presses may or may not have multiple types of their own.
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Common press names are 2nd PRESS (2ndプレス) and Tsuika PRESS (追加プレス). Be sure to use the “most correct” name as it is written on the release, flyer, or official website. If unsure, default to 2nd PRESS (2ndプレス).
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If a release is essentially a second press but uses a different name than the original release, the press field may be left blank.
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Never add “1st press” to a release unless the band themselves specified it that way at the time of release. First presses should usually have the press field blank.
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Additional presses usually feature minor changes in packaging or content. Be sure to include thorough notes about these changes, as different presses are often difficult to identify after the fact.
- Presses that feature the exact same content and packaging are generally referred to as Tsuika PRESS (追加プレス)—these should still be treated like a separate release.