To cover this: Not buying a 360.

I've considered going to the JP version but I want to know what is required of it.

Need japanese debit card?
Need japanese PS2?(probably stupid question)

This already feels like it'll be hard.

I dont understand this IME thing, and I know no japanese, but I have a friend who can help me with that.

FYI - not going through the same crap that I did with PSO and tired of falling with the ship.