Then it went black.
To attempt a language change or adjust settings, follow these steps through the Japanese menus: : Press the Menu button.
The motorized screen tilted forward, reset itself, and then—a miracle—text appeared. Not Kanji. Not gibberish.
If you need full English operation, consider replacing the Carrozzeria unit with a or similar international model. The AVIC-VH009 hardware is excellent, but the language barrier is permanent without replacing the ROM chip (not recommended).
But what choice did he have?