They make up with faster attacks by spearmen to counter other team’s cavalry. The Japanese have a weak cavalry bloodline and lack siege upgrades. If the map contains large bodies of water, take to the sea and it’ll help you economically and defensively.Their unique unit, the samurai, have attack bonuses against other unique units making them a late game favorite when other players begin to rely heavily on their unique units. It’s also fitting that the Japanese have a relatively strong navy and incredibly efficient fishing ships. Their infantry attacks faster than any other civilizations giving them an advantage in battles on foot.
The Japanese’s advantage lies in their infantry.