This image has been circulating through game forums and showing up in our inboxes today, indicating that some Japanese retailers are selling the Xbox 360 for the low low price of 19,800 yen (or $168.54 US). Does it indicate that retailers are noticing stock piling up and its time to ditch them for whatever they can get? Does a $25 price on Dead Or Alive 4 mean that Itagaki is currently disemboweling himself?

Probably not. Since I can't read Japanese and don't know the context of this ad, its hard to say. I will call upon the kanji reading powers of Kotaku Japan to sort out this mystery! One bit of insight I can give you, is that some Japanese retailers will give discounts on hardware if you buy cell phone plans or internet service, not unlike the price incentives US retailers give to potential cellular phone buyers.

Updates follow!

UPDATE: Kanji enabled reader Ryan F. let us know that there's not much else in the ad to go on, but that the prices are for new, not used, titles and that the Xbox 360 is referred to as the "Launch Commemoration Package". Japanese Kotaku scout Sean A. also wrote into let me know that the price is conditional on signing up for @TCOM service (an ISP that I personally don't know about, Sean, but thanks for the benefit of the doubt) AND buying an Xbox 360 with your game. Thanks a billion yen, guys!

Rest assured that Japanese retailers are still charging full price for the standalone Xbox 360, so Mr. Allard, please come down from that ledge!

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