Twelve years w/ Itochu Intl makes me familiar w/ your question. The Japanese version, done properly, is much better. Tonkatsu is such a common dish in Japan it is almost like a hamburger here. Can be awesome, can be crap and greasy. I usually went for potstickers and ramen for lunch in Japan. Fried pork I could get in the states

By the way we use panko to bread fish and make meat loaf. Always use only one hand to do the dipping and breading, reduces the mess.