This week has seen the launch of over 1000 movies to rent or buy in high and standard definition on the iTunes Store in Japan.

Movies on offer come from studios including 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures and Universal Pictures.

Japanese studios including Asmik Ace Entertainment Inc., Fuji TV, Kadakowa Pictures, Nikkatsu, Shochiku Company Limited and Toei Company Limited are also on board.

HD movie purchases in Japan start at ¥2,000 (NZ$31) for catalogue titles and recent releases and ¥2,500 for new releases. HD rentals start at ¥300 (NZ$4.66) for library title rentals and ¥500 for new releases.

SD versions are priced at ¥1,000 for catalogue titles, ¥1,500 for recent releases and ¥2,000 for new releases. SD rentals start at ¥200 for library title rentals and ¥400 for new releases.