An obi strip is the paper band wrapped around the left edge of a Japanese record's jacket. Printed in Japanese, it carries the artist, the title, the price and a line or two of sales copy. It isn't part of the sleeve itself, yet many collectors treat it as the sign that a Japanese pressing is complete.

Records made elsewhere usually don't have one. For anyone collecting Japanese pressings, whether the obi is there, which obi it is and how well it has survived all feed into how a copy is judged on the secondhand market. This guide covers what an obi is, the main types, how it affects price and how to look after one.

Key points

  • The obi is a paper strip found on Japanese records, usually around the left side of the jacket, showing the artist, title, price and sales copy. Records from other countries normally don't have one.
  • Japanese sources usually say the Japanese record industry started adding obi around the 1950s to introduce Western records; English-language sources more often place their spread in the 1960s.
  • Common types include the standard obi that wraps all the way around, the shorter han-kake obi that doesn't, the kabuse obi that sits over the jacket, and the insert obi joined to a lyric sheet or liner notes. Names vary from shop to shop.
  • Many obi were thrown away after purchase, so intact ones are scarce. Used-record shops and buyers generally rate copies with obi higher, but the record's own rarity and condition remain the foundation.
  • The liner notes, lyric sheet, posters and other inserts that came with Japanese pressings also count. A complete set is valued more.
  • An obi is thin paper that fades, takes on damp and tears easily. Keep it with the jacket, put both in an outer sleeve, and store the record upright somewhere dark and dry.

What is an obi strip?

The obi (帯, literally "sash" or "belt") is a paper band fitted to the jacket of a Japanese record. Audio-Technica's record glossary explains that while obi are taken for granted in Japan, records abroad usually have none, which makes them a distinctly Japanese custom. On Western releases in particular, the Japanese title and sales copy on the obi worked as advertising for the home market. Today it is known worldwide as the "OBI", and it has many collectors.

As for where it sits, a Recycle Tsushin column describes it as a band of paper wrapped around the left side of the record. Sabukaru likewise notes that it was usually wrapped around the left side of the sleeve, where shoppers flipping through a rack would see it at once.

There is no fixed layout for what goes on it. A column by the buyer Onkikan lists typical content: the genre, whether the album is a debut or a later release, sales copy aimed at buyers, and the names of foreign artists and titles written out in katakana. BuySell adds track titles and the price.

Why do Japanese records have obi?

The usual explanation is that Western records came in English-language jackets, and Japanese labels wanted to add Japanese information without changing the original artwork. The Japanese Wikipedia article on obi says the Japanese record industry began adding them around the 1950s to explain the contents of Western records. Sabukaru sets the story in the 1960s, as Japanese listeners bought more music from North America and Europe.

Sources disagree on when it started, but they agree on the idea: keep the original cover and add Japanese text and promotion on a removable strip of paper. Records by Japanese artists came with obi too (Recycle Tsushin uses 1970s and 1980s "new music" releases as an example), and the habit carried on into CDs (Onkikan).

Discogs treats the obi as part of the release. Its image guidelines ask for a primary image free of shrinkwrap and hype stickers where possible, but say permanent features such as obis may be used as the primary image.

Types of obi

The shape of an obi changed a lot between eras and labels. These are the types that Japanese used-record shops and buyers mention most often. The names vary between shops, and the same thing can go by more than one name.

  • Standard obi (kake obi). A band that wraps vertically all the way around the jacket. An Eco Store Record column calls this the common type.
  • Han-kake obi (half obi). A shorter strip that hooks onto the jacket without going all the way round. Wolfpack describes it as an obi that isn't joined into a full loop.
  • Kabuse obi. Rather than wrapping around, it sits over the jacket. According to BuySell, the text on this type runs horizontally.
  • Insert obi. An obi joined to the lyric sheet or liner notes (BuySell).
  • Translucent obi. An obi printed on see-through paper (Wolfpack).

The same album can come with different obi designs depending on when that copy was released. One collector has sorted Toshiba's Japanese Beatles LPs into several generations by obi design. So it isn't only a question of whether a copy has an obi: which obi it has can help identify the pressing.

CDs have obi too. Japanese Wikipedia describes the CD obi as a slightly stiff piece of paper that fits over the spine side of the case, often called a "cap". Recycle Tsushin also mentions the "seal obi", an obi-shaped sticker applied straight onto the plastic case.

With obi or without: the effect on price

In Japanese listings, 帯付き (obi-tsuki) means the obi is present and 帯なし (obi-nashi) means it is missing.

Japanese shops and buyers largely agree that the obi affects price. Gakki Takaku Ureru calls it one of the biggest factors in the valuation of a Japanese pressing, and Onkikan writes that having an obi or not changes a record's value.

The main reason is scarcity. An obi had little use once the record was home, so many were thrown away, lost or torn (Sabukaru, BuySell). Few survive in good shape, while plenty of collectors want a complete copy, including collectors outside Japan who look specifically for Japanese pressings with obi.

Still, the obi isn't everything:

  • The record comes first. Setagaya Records Center says copies with obi tend to fetch more, but the obi alone doesn't decide value. The same album can also vary widely in price depending on which obi it has.
  • No obi doesn't mean no sale. Gakki Takaku Ureru says it buys records without obi, and pays well when the disc and jacket are in good condition.
  • Small damage may not matter much. Setagaya Records Center considers minor tears and creases no great problem.

How much difference an obi makes depends on the record, the pressing, and the type and condition of the obi. There is no fixed percentage. To gauge a particular copy, compare sold prices for the same pressing with an obi. Our guide to valuing vinyl records explains how.

Discogs' grading guide focuses on the media and the sleeve, and has no separate grade for the obi. When you buy a Japanese pressing online, check the seller's description and photos for the obi and its condition, and ask if it isn't clear. See our condition grading guide for what the grades mean, and the checklist for buying used vinyl online before you pay.

Watch out for reissues as well. Many recent reissues come with an obi, some reproducing the original design and some newly designed (Yokohama Record). Some American and European labels also add an obi to limited editions as a nod to Japanese pressings (Sabukaru). An obi alone doesn't make a copy an old Japanese original, so confirm the pressing by catalogue number and runout. Our vinyl version primer shows how.

Other inserts: liner notes, lyric sheets and more

Besides the obi, Japanese pressings often come with a few other pieces:

  • Liner notes (raina nōtsu or kaisetsu). A sheet introducing the artist, the background of the record and some commentary. It is separate from the lyrics (Music First's record glossary).
  • Lyric sheet (kashi kādo). The lyrics printed on a sheet or card. Japanese editions of Western albums sometimes include the lyrics in Japanese (Tokyo Weekender).
  • Inserts. Some shops use this word for all the extras together: lyric sheet, liner notes, posters and so on (Music First).

A Gyokkodo column notes that Japanese domestic releases come with a Japanese lyric sheet, detailed liner notes and an obi, while imports often don't. For collectors these extras are, like the obi, a question of completeness. Setagaya Records Center warns that even a valuable record fetches less when its accessories are missing, and a copy with everything present may be listed as 完品 (kanpin, complete) (Gakki Takaku Ureru).

How to store an obi

An obi is made of paper, so it tears and marks easily (Onkikan). A few habits help:

  • Don't throw it away. Even if it gets in the way, keep it with its record.
  • Use an outer sleeve. Setagaya Records Center recommends keeping obi in a clear bag such as an OPP sleeve. With the obi inside the outer sleeve along with the jacket, your hands don't rub it every time you take the record out.
  • Keep it out of the light. Direct sunlight fades jackets (Setagaya Records Center), and a record left on display for a long time can fade under sunlight or room lighting (Bee Records). The obi is paper just like the jacket, so keep it away from windows.
  • Keep it dry and upright. Damp encourages mould. Store records standing up, not stacked flat (BuySell).

For storing the whole record, see our guide to storing vinyl, and for sleeves, how to choose inner sleeves.

Log the pressing and its condition

When a Japanese pressing with obi comes home, start by pinning down exactly which pressing it is. In CRATTO you can scan the barcode or catalogue number to find the matching release on Discogs, and record the condition of the record and the sleeve separately.

FAQ

What does "with obi" mean in a listing?

It means the obi is still with the record. In Japanese listings, 帯付き means it has the obi and 帯なし means the obi is missing.

Can I still sell a Japanese record without its obi?

Yes. Japanese buyers generally say they will take records without obi, though an obi usually helps the valuation. The condition of the disc and jacket is still the starting point.

My obi has a small tear. Should I tape it?

There's no need to rush a repair. Some buyers consider minor tears and creases no great problem. Leaving it as it is and keeping it in an outer sleeve so it doesn't get worse is the safer choice.

Do non-Japanese records ever have an obi?

Traditionally the obi is a Japanese custom, and records from elsewhere don't have one. In recent years, though, some American and European labels have added an obi to limited editions as a tribute to Japanese pressings.