I'm moving to Japan in 2014 for one year, is it possible for me to play Japanese games on an American 3DS?

I live in the UK, but if the 3DS in the US and Japan uses NTSC maybe I'm better getting an American unit. Unless they are still using the NTSC-J differentiator for Japan?

I'm fine with playing games in Japanese but I'd rather have the option of being able to play games in English too, is there any scenario where I can find a middle ground here or is my only option to buy a Japanese 3DS, use that for a year, then either sell that for a PAL or keep it and only import games?

I really hate region locking. If the 3DS gets hacked I'll be doing it day one because of bullshit like this.

Edit: I know playing American games on a PAL 3DS is impossible but I always understood it that in some cases NTSC games would work in Japan and the US.

@Sooty: Can't play Japanese games on an American 3DS

@Bocam said:

@Sooty: Can't play Japanese games on an American 3DS

Well fuck.

Can you connect to another countries eShop?

Really annoying because if I get a 3DS here I can't buy any games for a year when I'm there since I'm not sure if I can get mail at my university address. :/

@Sooty: You're expecting there won't be a revision on the 3DS by 2014? You're more optimistic than me.

@Sooty: Can't connect to another countries eShop. As they're based on the system's region.

@Bocam said:

@Sooty: Can't connect to another countries eShop. As they're based on the system's region.

Well fuck.

@RazielCuts said:

@Sooty: You're expecting there won't be a revision on the 3DS by 2014? You're more optimistic than me.

Like what! Dual sticks or a 3DS Lite? The XL looks perfect to me but who knows...I really like that they changed the front plate of the screen to matte, the glossy black drove me nuts on my first 3DS.

@sooty said:

Sorry but I have to bump this because Nintendo did exactly what @razielcuts said would happen did happen, hahah.

True, but who would have guess they would have made it less functional and hideous. Granted, I'm not the target audience, I get that ... but surely even kids will want the "good" 3DS and not the dodgy 2DS?

Time will tell, sooner or later, time will tell.

Die Waffen! Legt an! DAHH DAHH DAHH DAHHNN DAHNN NANANA NNA NAAN DAH DAHH DAH DAHH DAHHNN DAN NANANAAN