Lol.
Just lol.
1) Don't list 4th places. We're talking about medals. Not top 4, top 5, top 10 finishes. And if you want to go there, in that 2004 women's marathon where Deena got bronze, Japan was 1, 5 and 7. Team USA went 3, 34 and 39. Japan had the best scoring team in the Olympics that year, beating even mighty Kenya.
Want to talk about Meb in 2004? Sure, Team USA did 2, 12 and 65. Japan? 5, 6 and 42! Oh SNAP! Japan has a better team score than USA!
2) World Championship is not major lol. Yet you list the Chicago marathon. Hardy har har! US Marathon is an absolute JOKE compared to Japan. Let's just use Olympic medals.
USA
Women's 2004 OG bronze marathon
Men's 2004 OG silver marathon
vs.
Japan
2000 Olympic Marathon Gold
2004 Olympic Marathon Gold
Not bad for a team that supposedly chokes on the global stage.