• The name field is for the “official name” which is usually the Japanese name.
• We consider an “official name” to be whatever is written on the front jacket of the release, including all symbols, quotation marks, subtitles, and so on; but excluding any press name, type name, official romaji, official translation, or other extraneous information.
• If there is a longer name somewhere on the release packaging (such as a version with subtitle) we assume that is the official name.
• For releases without a jacket, the name as written on a flyer, official website, or official social media may be used.
• The romaji field should be a romanized version of the “official name” in keeping with our romanization style.
• If there is a romanization specified on the jacket of the release, that is treated as the official romanization and used instead, even if it doesn't conform to our internal romanization style.
• Romanizations from websites or streaming services are not treated as official, as they may have been generated by AI tools and/or without input from the artist. However, they may be used to inform romanizations.
• If the name does not need romaji (for example, a title that is originally written in English, or is entirely numbers and symbols), the field may be left blank.
• Neither press nor type nor other meta information should be included in the name or romaji fields. See the “presses and types” section below for details.
• Translations should not be used in either field, even when such translations are “official.” However, translated titles may be included in the notes section.
• Non-Japanese titles should follow the same rules. For example, a release with a Chinese title would use the Chinese version for the name field and a romanized version for the romaji field. Our romanization style should still be followed as closely as possible, but deviations are allowed as necessary.
• The friendly name is used in the URL for the release and is automatically generated. It includes romanized versions of the release name, press name, and type name, and should only be manually edited if the automatic version fails to include those three fields.
• Extended horizontal symbols suchs as very wide hyphens/underscores/spaces/etc must be treated as a single symbol in all fields, even if the band's official website or other sources use multiple symbols. The exception to this is if the jacket very clearly distinguishes how many symbol are present (i.e. there is a visible break between each hyphen), or if an official representative of the band has publicly stated in writing that there should be a specific number of symbols.

• We consider a release without a name to be one where: there is no packaging; the packaging does not indicate a release name; there is no name listed on an official flyer, website, or social media; and/or the name given by official sources is a meta description of the release itself such as “distributed CD” (unless said meta description is very obviously stylized as the official name on the release's packaging).
• Titles comprised of empty brackets or quotations (with our without a space between them) are not treated as a release without a name. In other words, a name such as 「」 may be used so long as said name is used in an official flyer, website, or social media.
• If the release media has a handwritten name (such as on the face of a CD-R), that name may be treated as the official name.
• If the release contains a single song which has a known name, that song name may be used as the release name.
• If the release contains multiple songs which are all studio recordings, have known names, and have a confirmed tracklist order, those names may be concatenated with a single slash and used as the release name, i.e. Song 1/Song 2. Do not add “c/w” or other similar phrases.
• For all other cases, a meta name should be used. This name should describe the release in very dry terms, and should generally include the physical medium, such as “(unknown distributed CD)” or “(untitled live DVD-R)” or similar.
• All meta names must be wrapped in parentheses to indicate that we chose that name without any input from the artist.
• Within such meta names, unknown indiciates that there is a release title but it is unknown, while untitled indicates that there is no official title at all.
• When multiple releases have the same meta name, simple strings such as 1/2/3 or A/B/C may be added. For example, if two CD-Rs were freely distributed in 1999, one might be (unknown distributed CD-R A) and the other might be (unknown distributed CD-R B). The press and type fields may also be used when it makes sense to do so.
• For live recordings, the performance date and venue may be used as the meta name.
• Only when it makes sense to do so (such as for live recordings), a Japanese meta name may be used in the name field and romanized meta name in the romaji field. This is not required for basic meta names like (unknown distributed DT).

• press is for additional pressings, which typically occur on separate dates. The “most official” press name should be used: usually however the band refers to the press in promotional material, i.e. “追加プレス” or “2ndプレス.” See “Presses and types.”
• type is for when multiple types of a release were made available at the same time. Again, this should use the “most official” name, i.e. “TYPE-A” or “通常盤” or “RED VER.” See “Presses and types.”
• artist is for the official artist. You can select (omnibus) ((オムニバス)) for omnibuses and coupling CDs.
• In cases where a non-omnibus CD includes an additional artist, the release artist is still set to the main artist. For example, the full album by KISAKI & Kansai Kizoku (妃&関西貴族) includes one track at the end by ∀NTI FEMINISM (アンチフェミニズム); the main artist is still KISAKI & Kansai Kizoku (妃&関西貴族) but the last track has its artist set to ∀NTI FEMINISM (アンチフェミニズム).
• If the artist was using a different name at the time of the release, use the display name section to specify the old name. This may also be done within the tracklist if the release is an omnibus (but is not required for solo releases).
• date can be blank, or just the year, or just the year and month. There is currently no way to be less specific (i.e. “somewhere between 1990 and 1992”) but a note may be added with any such information.
• price should be formatted e.g. 123 yen. For non-Japanese releases, the original native currency should be used. You may also write “free.”
• We currently do not have a good way to record tax included/excluded prices and/or prices that changed after modern revisions to Japan's tax code. Whatever is the highest price shown on the physical release should be recorded, and any other price variations may be recorded in the notes section.

• All artists in releases must follow our guidelines for artists allowed on vkgy.
• Artists who do not meet these guidelines should not have any releases added unless said releases are significant to a visual kei artist for some reason (such as a release that a vkei musician worked on, or a release that is often conflated with a vkei release of similar name).
• For any artist that does not meet the above criteria, they may be added to omnibuses with their track artist set to (omnibus) ((オムニバス)) and their track display name set to the artist's name. Our guidelines for proper artist naming still apply.
• Unauthorized covers by non-visual artists, such as unauthorized orchestra versions, may be added as an (omnibus) ((オムニバス)) release with the appropriate display names used. The songs should be edited to indicate that they are a cover. These releases may be mentioned within the artist's biography. Such releases should only be added if they are noteworthy in some way and required money to purchase.

• In the world of visual kei, “press” and “type” are treated as two different attributes. This is often little more than a marketing tactic, but we respect the delineation nonetheless.
• We do not internally recognize words like “edition” or “version.”
• Note that press/type names often 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.
• Overseas versions should be treated as a separate press (or type, if released on the same date as the original) even if they do not bill themselves as such.

Types

• 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).
• In general, different covers signify different types, even if the band itself doesn't advertise the release as having multiple types. However, inclusions (e.g. trading cards or differntly-colored CDs) in a release do not count as types. Information about such inclusions can go in the notes section.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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, but a different CD color does.
• 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. So long as the releases were announced at the same type, they are considered types.
• See “Digital and streaming releases” for how to handle digital-only types.

Presses

• Press describes an additional printing of a release which is planned separately from the initial release. These are generally released later and indicate that the initial release sold out.
• If a band planned two versions at the same time for marketing purposes, but describes them as “presses,” they are treated as presses.
• Presses may or may not have multiple types of their own.
• 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). If a later press was released in a different format, the format may be used as the press name (e.g. DVD).
• If a release is essentially a second press but uses a different name than the original release, the press field may be left blank.
• Do not 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.
• 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, but are manufactured and released later, are generally referred to as Tsuika PRESS (追加プレス). These should still be treated like a separate release.
• If remaining copies of a venue-limited press are later sold at a store, such copies are not treated as a second press unless some change has been made to them (such as adding a jacket). In the latter case, both the original press and later press should have very clear notes about how many copies were distributed between them.
• If remaining copies of a first press are re-packaged with a second release, the bundle is treated as a second press. For example, if 100 copies of the band's album remain unsold, and the band bundles those 100 remaining copies with a 100-copy-limited maxi-single, the bundle is treated as a second press. Both presses should have clear notes about how the copies were distributed between them. Inclusions such as trading cards do not trigger this rule, but should still be noted.
• Price changes are not treated as separate presses unless said change is reflected in the packaging of the release.
• Mistakes in packaging or content are treated as separate presses. The press may be named something like ERRORban (エラー盤), MISPRESSban (ミスプレス盤), or similar.
• UPC/JAN/catalog number changes are only treated as separate presses if they are reflected in the physical form of the release.
• See “Digital and streaming releases” for how to handle digital-only presses.

• Streaming-only or other digital-only releases (meaning releases only available through Spotify, Bandcamp, iTunes, OTOTOY, YouTube Music, or similar platforms) do get their own release entries.
• YouTube videos and songs uploaded to promotional websites (such as Muzie, MySpace, or similar) should not be treated as a release. However, if unreleased studio recordings are uploaded in such places, they may be recorded in the Songs section of the artist's profile. Cover songs, live tracks, comments, and other similar content may be added to the Videos section when appropriate, but are otherwise not recorded.
• Publicly available downloads such as those shared through Twitter or LINE, may be considered releases.
• Privately traded downloads such as an incomplete demo sent from a musician to a fan, are not considered releases, but may be noted in the Songs section if appropriate.
• Download cards (such as M∞カード or similar formats) are treated as a separate “disc” if included with another release, or a separate release if distributed by themselves. The same applies for any QR code or similar link to a download.
• Live streams (such performances streamed through ZAIKO or TwitCast) are not treated as releases, but may be noted in the band's biography. However, physical recordings of live streams (such as DVDs included with ZAIKO premium tickets) are treated as releases.
• Digital-only studio recorded material released as crowdfunding rewards may be treated as a release. Live recordings, comments, or one-of-a-kind songs may not be treated as releases, but may be noted within the artist's biography.
• For releases where a physical version also exists, the streaming/digital version should generally not receive its own entry.
• As streaming versions are often released earlier or later than the physical version, the earliest release date should be treated as the official one. A note may be added explaining when the second release date occurred.
• In cases where the digital version is different (has a different jacket, a different tracklist, and/or alternate versions of the recorded tracks), it should receive its own entry.
• Release/song title changes are not considered significant differences as they are often the result of automated tools and/or platform restrictions. In fact, such differences should not be recorded in any way except in the notes section, and only if said changes are of significant interest. Catalog numbers and other codes are also not considered significant differences, but may be recorded in the notes section.
• A different jacket is one where content was purposely added or removed, including the addition or removal of text. Slight changes that could be the result of platform restrictions (such as slight cropping, slight change in aspect ratio, slight change in hue, small black or white borders) are not considered to be different jackets.
• Editors may use their discretion with regard to digital releases split by track. For example, if a 5-track mini-album appears as 5 different releases on Spotify, but each one uses the same jacket as the original physical release, the splitting may be presumed to be a mistake. On the other hand, if an album is split into 10 different releases and each has their own jacket, those should be added as 10 separate releases.
• In cases where a jacket is changed for a digital release, only the latest jacket is considered in determining whether or not it is treated as a separate release. (This may necessitate merging a release that was once two separate entries.) However, such changes may be recorded in the notes section, and the earlier jackets may be uploaded to the release page.
• When a digital version receives its own entry, it is considered a press of the original release if released later, or a type of the original release if released on the same date.
• If a digital version has its own unique title that should be used. However, if it uses the same title as the physical version, a press or type name must be added. If there is no official press/type name, Haishinban (配信盤) should be used.
• When a single song on a streaming release is split unnaturally (i.e. broken into 30 second chunks to increase streaming revenue), it is considered a tracklist change and should be added as a separate release. If each song piece does not have its own official title, it must have a note added such as (part 1).
• Different file formats (i.e. MP3 vs M4A vs FLAC vs WAV vs Hi-res) should not be treated as separate releases, but may be recorded in the notes section.

• Both physical medium and format can have multiple values. Note that “CT” = “demotape.”
• All CT/DT releases should be assumed to have a format of “demo” unless it is a full album or comment tape.
• venue can have only one selection. Note that “industry only” is for items that were only distributed to label producers, shop owners, etc.
• pressing refers to pressing limitation, and is usually specified by the band. This field can be left blank if the pressing wasn't limited in any way.
• copies made is the number of copies in that particular press. Separating comma is not necessary.
• The following fields are all related to companies, and can have multiple values, or none. This information usually comes from the back of the release, or from marketing material.
• The fields are in order from most-commonly-specified to least (left to right):
  
  label (レーベル) is whichever label managed the artist at that time. publisher (発売元) is whoever published (paid for) the release and often who owns the rights to the release in the future. distributor (販売元) is who sent the release to stores. marketer (マーケター) is whoever was in charge of promotional material. manufacturer (製造元) is who physically made the release. organizer (企画元) is whoever planned the release.

• When you type in a tracklist name, the system will automatically search for other songs by that band, and give auto-complete suggestions. These suggestions will automatically fill in the romaji, if it was specified before.
• Click and hold the ⮁ button and drag to rearrange tracks. Click + to add a spot for a track directly below the current one.
• add tracks adds spaces for several additional tracks at once.
• add disc and add section will separate the tracklist into discs and sections, respectively.
• “Disc” is used generically here, and refers to separate items within the same set, e.g. CD and DVD.
• “Section” is used for sections within one item, e.g. “Side A” and “Side B” on the same demotape.
• All discs and sections need a name, even if it's as simple as “CD.” Again, use the “most official” name, or as brief a name as possible if no official name was provided.
• show artists gives the option to specify an artist for each track—this is useful for random guest appearances on releases. Omnibus releases have this option shown by default.
  
  show artist display names can be used if an artist appeared on a release, but under a different name. Note that display name within the “Basics” section should be used if the entire release was made by an artist under a different name.
  
  For tracks that don't really have an artist (e.g. an uncredited SE on an omnibus), you can put (omnibus) ((オムニバス)) as the artist (and add a display name if you wish).
• To save time, you can copy tracklists directly from websites and paste them into one of the tracklist boxes, and the system will automatically separate them. This works for tracklists in the following format:
  
  1. Song A
  2. Song B
  3. Song C
• clear tracklist is mainly useful when duplicating releases (see Advanced editing).

• If a release was cancelled, it should still be entered into the database: just add (cancelled) at the end of the title.
• If a release was postponed, put the last date in the date field, but mention the original date and reason for delay in the notes.
• If a release was sold on multiple days (e.g. three lives in a row), use the first for date and list the others in notes.
• You can add as many images as you'd like, just be sure to select default cover image for whichever one is the cover. For the others, you can add descriptions as necessary.
• scanned by vkgy user should only be selected if you (or another user) scanned the image. These images will be watermarked with the username of whoever uploaded them.
• friendly url is a url-friendly name for the release. It's automatically generated, but you can edit it if you'd like. Letters, numbers, and hyphens are allowed.
• notes is for any random notes you have about the release. You can separate them with a horizontal line, and Markdown can be used.
  
  note 1
  
  ---
  
  *another* note
  • note 1
  • another note
• booklet credits is for the liner notes. For these, just type them however they appear in the booklet. Special formatting will be applied to any lines that are formatted like credit - name.
  
  Producer - KISAKI
  Engineer - Mr. Yamamoto
  
  Special thanks to... you Producer KISAKI
  Engineer Mr. Yamamoto
  
  Special thanks to... you
• concept/tagline is for when the artist specified a concept for the release. This is usually found on the obi or flyer, and was mostly only a trend with kote bands.
• jan code is for the number under the barcode.
• After hitting submit, you can immediately view the release or click edit to fix any mistakes.
• Clicking duplicate will keep all of the information, but as a new release. This is useful mainly for quickly entering multi-type releases. The friendly url will be cleared, but all information will stay the same until you edit it and submit again.
• clear tracklist can often be useful when duplicating releases.