Takara and other Japanese makers had a variety of models at different quality levels. The lower-end models were mass-produced using less expensive materials, a single factory might mass produce frames for a dozen makers. The better bikes were handmade, with much better stuff. Some bikes, like my old Cherubim, had 531 tubes and Nervex lugs. My old Vivalo road bike was made with Columbus SL tubes with Campy dropouts. When I look at old Japanese bikes, I first check the lugs and seat stays. The lower end bikes have longer, heavier lugs, and the attention to detail around the seat stays and how they are attached. The high-end bikes have smaller lugs, which are better shaped, and which sometimes have cutouts. The best frames come with internal cable routing, the very best have internal routing all the way to the derailleur cable on the chain stay. The chrome, the dropouts, the lugs, and the Gran Compe stem and brakes denote a high end bike, only a step down from the top-of-the line models.