Apple Computer will launch a version of its iTunes music service in Japan in August, charging less than similar services already in Japan.

When it is launched, Apple will have the largest digital song library in the country, estimated at between 500,000 to 1 million songs. Several record companies have signed up to provide songs for the service, including Toshiba-EMI, Columbia Music Entertainment and Avex Group Holdings.

Somehow Sony Music Entertainment has not yet agreed on contract terms with Apple. This might because Sony has its own download service in Japan, called Mora, which currently has the country’s largest digital library of songs.

Mora users pay about 210 yen for each song, but Apple is planning on charging about 150 yen per song, according to news reports. The ensuing battle might make negotiations between Sony and Apple a bit contentious over the next few weeks.

Apple has been broadening its reach in Asia in much the same way that it tackled Europe, by gradually building stores and launching iTunes offerings rather than trying to sweep across several countries at once.

Anyway, I just hope iTune soon will be launched in Malaysia to help fighting piracy issues.