"We are thrilled to be bringing the iTunes Music Store to Japan, and hope music fans here love it as much as others around the world do," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs yesterday as Apple launched the iTunes Music Store in Japan. In celebration of the launch, Apple is hosting live music performances throughout August at all four retail locations in Japan, including the new Apple Store Shibuya which opens August 6. 

Apple also announced yesterday the worldwide availability of early Abkco catalog titles from classic artists such as Sam Cooke and The Animals, as well as the Rolling Stones, making the iTunes Music Store the only online music service in the world to feature the complete digital music catalog of the Rolling Stones.

iTunes is offering music fans worldwide the opportunity to pre-order a special version of the new Rolling Stones album “A Bigger Bang” with an exclusive bonus video. 

The iTunes Music Store in Japan debuts with local favorites including iTunes Originals from globe and Ulfuls, exclusives from Def Tech, Crazy Ken Band, Chara, Little Creatures, Chie Ayado and The Complete B’z digital box set. Other iTunes exclusives released today include music from international artists such as U2, Jack Johnson and Björk, and over 10,000 audiobooks are available, including works by Japanese authors.

With iTunes 4.9, Apple says, "listeners have everything they need to discover, subscribe, manage and listen to Podcasts built right in."

The iTunes Music Store in Japan is launching with a wide variety of Japanese-language Podcasts, such as InterFM, Sotokoto and Radio Nikkei. 

“iTunes and iPod are leading the digital music revolution,” said Jobs.