What was the original PlayStation 2's launch price in Japan?

The original PlayStation 2 launched in Japan at a price of 39,800 yen.

Sony set that launch price for the Japanese release on March 4, 2000. The system's DVD playback was central to its appeal, since the console could also function as an affordable DVD player at a time when the format was expanding rapidly.

The PS2 used a custom processor called the Emotion Engine and supported games on DVD-ROM discs. Its hardware design allowed it to play most original PlayStation games, helping owners carry forward an existing game library.

The launch price is sometimes confused with later regional prices or later revisions. In North America, the PlayStation 2 launched at $299, while European pricing was presented in pounds and euros. Currency conversions do not produce an exact equivalent because retail prices and taxes differed by market.