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The hoops you have to jump through to make an imported car "sreet legal" are often expensive and time consuming. Often times the costs of making the car comply with standards ends up negating the savings of the lower sale price in japan. This section below is quoted from this page [ http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/imp-exp2/informal/car.htm ]
"Imported motor vehicles are subject to safety standards under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, revised under the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988; to bumper standards under the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act of 1972, which became effective in 1978; and to air pollution control standards under the Clean Air Act of 1968, as amended in 1977 and 1990.
Most vehicles manufactured abroad that conform with U.S. safety, bumper, and emission standards are exported expressly for sale in the United States; therefore, it is unlikely that a vehicle obtained abroad meets all relevant standards"
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