I recently purchased the North American version, and due to some shoddy salesmanship on the part of the eBay seller, was not informed of this version's lack of remote. The remote that isincluded is very small, and I must admit that I prefer it to bulkier LCD remotes from my older models. It's perfect for working out or being active. However, as has been noted above, it falls very short in recording situations. My question is this: what is the model number of the remote that is included with the Japanese model? I'd like to purchase this "new type" remote, as MD Community calls it. My primary concern is getting full functionality and compatibility out of both the remote and the recorder. I've been considering the RM-MC40ELK, but would prefer to hear from a user who's tried the two together before jumping in. Also, would anyone have the model number of the charging station for the Japanese model? Many thanks to those who can help!