I think it is very cool that the kids have all these responsibilities. Not only for themselves but for the good of the community/school as a whole. Again, more positive reasons in my bucket showing that kids growing up in Japan will be more independent and overall better citizens to others.
I try not to promote one or the other, but I don't think I could go back to the States and raise my kids there. I don't know. There are things I want my children to experience in America, but when I think of them becoming adults, I think they will learn a lot of valuable lessons here in Japan.