the problem with the DVD's not working is that the screen is NTSC (like in usa) whereas we have PAL, but the region code is Region 2 (like us). So you can't play region 2 or region 1 DVD's. You are correct that you can play Japanese DVD i.e. from japan! For example my jap DVD for the Sat nav worked fine. You can buy english speaking DVD's from japan but they are few and far between. Likewise you MAY be able to buy a sat nav map in Japan that is of the UK but it will only speak to you in Japanese! It's hard to accept I know - I have just ripped out a state of the art TV, voice activated sat nav system and DVD but it really isn't going to work. The best you can hope for is that some of the bits can be used elsewhere.