Yeah the Japanese kids have the whole discipline and concentration advantage going for them too. They do the game by the book and will not deviate. Watching them drill is like looking at a drill team. Which at that level, is a huge advantage. I think that’s one of the reasons they are seemingly always there at the end.
And at school they have practice all year long after school and on weekends . JHS/HS probably 330 days a year . I know ; I teach at a JHS in Japan . During summer vacation practice is normally from 8:30 to 5 every day .