The best japanese defensive tactic on this map is to actually defend instead of counter attacking like most people do on other RS maps. Find choke points and wait for them to come. There's so much cover that it's likely they won't see you. You can sit and let the allies walk past, kill them while they are looking in the other direction, then move and do it again. Booby trap everything. Lie under a bush and kill them sneakily. It's great fun.
If you want a straight ahead shoot 'em up, wait for the bridge.
If you want a straight ahead shoot 'em up, wait for the bridge.