Thanks for the quick response and the good advice.
I am leaning towards getting an all mountain ski like the Volkl AC30 (waist 76) and bringing it to Japan - it will be inconvenient to carry it around, but I can get to use it, and then later in Aus. I am an intermediate skier with main interest in the groom run.....maybe I will change my mind when I have a taste of the powder in Niseko.
I saw a pair for around AU $1000.00 with binding in an off season sale in Sydney, and it is about the same price to buy online from US.
Unfortunatley, I am going striaght to Niseko, so I don;t ha