Norm,
It sounds like a joke ! But I can easily belive it. I think some Japanese farmers don't really take care of their tractors. As you maybe know, when they have around 500 hours they are qualified as "end of service". Japanese farmers have financial help from their government when buying a new agricultural tractor. That is the reason why the gray market business for used tractors and backhoes is so huge (a blessing for us north Americans and west Europeans). In France an "official" 15 year old Kubota with 5000 hours in very bad condition (when you are enough lucky to find one !) is the same price than a 5 years old, 1500 hours gray Yanmar like mine !
Phil