Apple Regionalizing Mac Hardware?

Alan Crow who lives in Japan is unable to install an English version of Mac OS 9.1 on his Japan-bought Power Mac G4. "I purchased a new G4 in Japan and am unable to install Mac OS 9.1 on it . When you try you get the standard 'You cannot install on this type of machine' -- or some such message. I also complained that the Mac OS 9.1 International English box says it will install 'on any PowerPC with 32MB of memory....' but was told basically that that's true unless it's a new G4 purchased in Japan!"