They also have a much older population. Maybe saying that they had a "much better" response than the US is too generous, certainly compared to their neighbors of similar means, Japan has been incredibly slow to act and test.
> ... Japan has been incredibly slow to act and test.
and it seems the Japanese public is quite angry over Abe's willful neglect to save the Olympics. Now that the Olympics is off the table (ie, postponed), Japan can stop pretending that everything is all sunshine and sunflower.
Not sure if Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam had to do much to prevent it in the first place. Their warmer climate seems to have slowed the spread.
South Korea's initial response was actually slow -- didn't restrict travel from China like many others did. The president declared a premature victory ("it would be over soon") and donated 2M face masks to China -- only to find the country in masks shortage the very following week. But their innovative testing efficiency (eg, drive-through, booth) and containment strategy set a good example for the world.
