Nationalistic pride also has to be considered in some responses, though that tends to go out the window when the schite hits the fan.
Japan Retains Confidence in F-35 Fighter, Defense Chief Says - Bloomberg
Japan Retains Confidence in F-35 Fighter, Defense Chief Says
"Japan is confident Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT)’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will overcome its development setbacks and expects to accept an initial order of four planes on schedule in 2016, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said.
“Problems tend to occur when a plane is in development,” Onodera said today in an interview at his office in Tokyo. “We have heard nothing from the U.S. to say there will be a delay. We think the end result will be a good product.”"
"Japan picked the F-35 to replace its aging F-4 aircraft, and could increase its order as its F-2 and F-15 models are retired. The Air Force has a total of 361 fighter planes, according to a white paper published in July last year.