The Japanese Market Headlights use different lenses (still plastic tho) that give it a darker "smoked" look, cant comment on whether the beam is better because I never got to put them on.The difference is very apparent when you place a US DOT headlight and the ECE type Japanese headlight side by side

pics on link below, looks a bit darker then this under natural light (picture taken with 7 MP camera inside w/ flash)

Photo Album


It's a real subtle thing, but they look very nice on the cars I've seen with them