Xbox 360 units haven't been exactly flying off the shelves in Japan (the console sold only 318 units last week), and apparently the local branch of Microsoft decided to try the drastic solution.

Starting today, and with no end announced (the promotion only states "until the planned number sells out") on the local Microsoft Store 250 GB Xbox 360 consoles will be priced 19,800 yen ($201) instead of 29,800 yen ($303), dopping its price by the local equivalent of more than 100 bucks.

The rules of the promotion specify that buyers must be resident in Japan and registered members of Xbox Live. It's also mention that the discount will be terminated without prior notice, so interested gamers are encouraged to order as early as possible.

This promotion comes only a week after the announcement that the "Xbox Friends" social networking service is going to be terminated in the archipelago of the raising sun. You can draw your own conclusions, but Microsoft Japan definitely seems to be trying to play all the cards left in its hand.

Will they finally be successful? We're going to have to wait for next Wednesday's Media Create charts to find out an answer to that question.