Japanese keirin has some differences from International keirin that make it hard to succeed in both. Japanese keirin is raced on 400 meter tracks so the tactics are different. I think there is more collusion in japanese keirin whereas on the int'l circuit you're pretty much on your own with only 6 guys out there. Not to mention the japanese guys probably do okay just racing keirin; they don't really NEED int'l whereas the foreigners use int'l success to get invited to Japan so they can make money. The Japanese are already there.