How can I use a foreign SIM in a Japanese Apple store bought iPhone 4s?

Recently I bought an iPhone 4S from the Apple Store in Ginza (I have just moved to Japan) and took it with me on holiday to Australia. Not wanting to pay extortionate roaming charges I bought myself an Australian Alstra SIM and put it in my phone. My phone kept saying that the SIM was invalid. We checked that it was fine in other phones and came to the conclusion that for some reason my phone would not take it. The Apple store in Sydney then told me that my phone was locked, I told them that this should not be possible as l had bought the phone from the Apple Store. They said there was nothing they could do.
I am very angry because it looks like I have been sold something that I do not now own. Is it possible to get iPhones in Japan that will support other networks (ie have I been sold a dud) or, if not, can they be unlocked (I'm going to be going to the uk soon and will again want to put a local SIM in)?
Thank you for you time and the support that Apple seems unwilling to provide (I have already asked these questions at the Genius bar and received shrugged shoulders)

Thank you Chris that is very helpful. I paid full price for an Apple Store phone (there was no indication about locking at the time and I didn't ask as I bought it without contract and from the store so just assumed. Although I did wonder why it was that you couldn't buy them online), must be about 3 months ago now. I then later signed up to a data contract with SoftBank.
It would seem (from other sources too) that all Japanese phones in Japan are locked to Japanese networks and that this is currently a requirement to do with managing phone usage. So I can (again apparently) use any Japanese SIM in my phone but no other! I will have to see what I can do about getting the phone unlocked...
Thank you again, I have leaned a valuable lesson about asking more questions at the time of purchase

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How can I use a foreign SIM in a Japanese Apple store bought iPhone 4s?

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