Super Famicon to SNES

So, I'm a bit confused about the region locking on the SNES.

It's easier for me to buy the American SNES than it is for me to buy a Super Famicon, my problem however is that I want to play a lot of games from Japan. (Dragon Quest, Tetris Battle Gaiden, etc.) My question is how do I play these games on an American SNES? I heard about cutting off the tab on the cartridge (console?), but am not sure how this works.

Thanks Duders.

There are 2 tabs on the sides of the cartridge slot that you have to rip off (pliers work)

EDIT: I'm apparently a purveyor of blatant lies, ignore me.

@corruptedevil: Thanks

@corruptedevil said:

There are 2 tabs on the sides of the cartridge slot that you have to rip off (pliers work)

Those are not the tabs you need to remove. The tabs are actually inside the cartage slot. They are at the bottom of the slot towards the back of the console. You will notice that on the back of a US SNES cart there are two indents on the bottom of the cart. These align to the tabs in the cartage slot which allows you to push the cart all the way in. Faamicom cart doesn't have the indent so they don't fit into the slot unless the tabs are removed.

EDIT: Here's a picture of one of the tabs.

If only region locking were that simple these days.

When I was younger, I got a Super Famicom to SNES adapter from Hong Kong. Like the 32X, it just sat on top of the SNES - all it did was extend the port, sans tabs.