Ask John: What is the “Folded Paper” on the Side of Japanese CDs?

Question:
I’ve been wondering what those folded papers that come with Japanese CDs are for. Is there anything printed there (aside from the portion of the cover sleeve/picture) that’s important? Every Japanese CD I’ve purchased (soundtracks, J-rock, etc.) always had these things. I don’t know what to do with them but I don’t wanna throw them away, either. (Itty-bitty souvenir, y’know?)

Answer:
The main point of these “spine cards,” as they are often called, is to carry the CD UPC code and suggested retail price. It’s common for Japanese CDs and video games both to have these spine cards. Japanese laserdiscs and some books have a similar paper band around them, sometimes referred to as an “obi,” a reference to the wide sash worn with a kimono. The “obi” serves the same purpose as a CD spine card or may carry additional advertising information such as pictures of other CDs or books by the same artist or related CDs or videos.

Although there’s no practical purpose to keeping the spine card, it’s common for both Japanese and Western consumers to keep them anyway. It’s not uncommon at all to find used laserdiscs, video games and audio CDs in Japanese second-hand stores that still have the spine card included. While the spine card or obi have no practical purpose once the CD or book has been purchased, keeping them provides a sense of completeness for collectors. A spine card can also often be used as a useful distinguishing point between legitimate, official Japanese CDs and bootleg Chinese copies. Chinese produced bootleg anime and J-pop CDs do not have a retail price printed directly on the CD packaging, thus usually no spine card.