They don't have to ship them anywhere and are manufactured in Japan. Probably more care in the assembly as well.
In fact, I'm 100% sure they're manufactured with more care.
I still have an electronic Zojirushi rice cooker that is now over 20 years old and it still looks and runs like it's brand new.
They started making ones shortly after in China and they would break down in a handful of years and was well known to buy the Made in Japan versions vs the China assembled ones in the culinary community.