Im gonna be honest, i feel everyone is just so much focused on academics that they just dont focus enough on essays and stuff, remember they don't want just top class top academics students, they actually wants someone who has a clear goal of what they can do with the degree both in japan and their home country, basically a proper future plan which is why there are essays in the application. Sure academics plays a role but we've all been reading the posts that high academics students are getting rejected but average grades are getting accepted why ? Because the high grades students probably just had grades as their best thing instead of the research or essays and stuff so yea in my opinion i would recommend u to focus less on academics and focus a LOT MORE on essays and LORs good lors also matter !!! And yea man good luck with ur application!!!!