You have to find out what frame a particualar model had. As others have said they ran the range from junk to superb. In the 80's Panasonic, Fuji and others made a lot of low end bikes but some had one high end bike that used Ishiwata 021 tubing that more then rivaled anything Europe had out. Personally I thought Ishiwata 021 tubing was stronger and stiffer and just as light then anything Columbus had and it rivaled Reynolds 531c or 531Pro which both had rider weight limits of 150 pounds whereas the 021 did not. Then there was Ishiwata 022 that again was just as light but actually stiffer then Reynolds 531cs (this series was a step below 531c/pro and did not have a rider weight limit.). But if you can find an older Japanese bike using the Ishiwata 021 you got a rare bird. The Japanese skilled hand detail was very high and again would rival anything Europe could do. Unfortunately unless you find a custom Japanese bike like 3Renso the value is not high; but Bridgestone made the RB1 and the Panasonic racing bike are in fairly high demand-if they can be found. Also in order to keep with traditional Japanese quality and rareness you would want to find a bike that still had the original Japanese components on it as well and has not been basterized over the years.