Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre

[Japan Based]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

At the moment it works. Of course it might stop working one day.

Thank you. I just realized that the books will all be downloaded in black and white and the same with the file when I load it into calibre, correct?

The only option for color covers and images is to get a color kindle with firmware the is pre 5.18.4?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Japan Based

Thank you. I just realized that the books will all be downloaded in black and white and the same with the file when I load it into calibre, correct?

The only option for color covers and images is to get a color kindle with firmware the is pre 5.18.4?

You can download a color cover via calibre. But for other color images, yes, either a color Kindle with an older firmware or buy an epub somewhere else than Amazon.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Japan Based

Thank you. I just realized that the books will all be downloaded in black and white and the same with the file when I load it into calibre, correct?

The only option for color covers and images is to get a color kindle with firmware the is pre 5.18.4?

With my PW 5th gen (aka PW1), the azw3/KF8 downloads have colour covers. I haven't noticed interior illustrations since few of the book that I purchase from Amazon have interior illustrations. OTOH, the cover illustrations don't matter much to me since, for most of the books, I download higher resolution covers when updating the metadata.

[Japan Based]

Thank you for the information. Most of the books I would like to buy have color illustrations. Mostly Japanese cookbooks etc.

[lkmiller]

An older Kindle that receives kf8/azw3 files should work for the moment. I use a Kindle Touch myself for the rare book I get from Amazon. There are also still currently working (and free) methods for Kindle for PC.

[Japan Based]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

An older Kindle that receives kf8/azw3 files should work for the moment. I use a Kindle Touch myself for the rare book I get from Amazon. There are also still currently working (and free) methods for Kindle for PC.

It works to get the azw3 files in color?

for example a book like this?

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/%E7%A8...-2703561?psc=1

[xyzzy_foo]

My understanding is that on a Kindle Paperwhite (5th Generation), you can get KF8 (AZW3) in color, but there's no equivalent to an AZW6 file, so the image quality will be quite low. I don't own a Kindle Paperwhite (5th Generation).

And I don't think any other older Kindle E-Readers will work with Japanese Kindle eBooks, because Kindle wasn't sold in Japan at that time.

PS. You should seriously consider using DMM Books or Kinoppy. Also, if it's a fixed-layout format, BookLive! is another option.

[Japan Based]

Thank you for your advice. Actually there are a lot of older Kindles on the used flea market sites in Japan. I am looking at a 5th gen paperwhite right now.

That being said, I think I am going to give up on the Amazon route. There are many, many digital books stores in Japan including the ones that you listed.

I just thought Amazon had the best selection but maybe the other sites are on par.

Here are some, in case others are interested:

https://booklive.jp/

https://honto.jp/

https://bookwalker.jp/

https://ebookjapan.yahoo.co.jp/

[xyzzy_foo]

A brief description of each Japanese eBook store:

BookLive!
Only fixed-layout eBooks have easily removable DRM. Reflowable eBook DRM is complex, and even if removed, you get XMDF, not EPUB.

honto
DRM can be removed with Epubor Honto Converter, but CSS information is lost. EPUBs may be precompiled.

BOOK WALKER
DRM is removable, but since they actively changed their DRM, solutions are no longer circulated on the surface web. They mostly retain the publisher's original EPUB, but text and image watermarks are present.

ebookjapan
DRM is likely easy to remove, but it's highly questionable whether it can be extracted as EPUB. The format may save eBooks as a mere set of images.

DMM Books
There is a known solution to easily remove DRM, and there are no watermarks. You can easily extract the publisher's original EPUB.

Kinoppy
DRM can be removed with Epubor Kinoppy Mate. It's the publisher's original EPUB, except for one extra metadata file.

[bustacap]

and theres obviously still kobo for japanese books. it allows downloads via the international website or the kobo desktop app. drm removal is also easy