Japanese Audio

bjesien,

Speakers that are locally sourced (USA), small, and efficient is a tall order.  By far, the best I've heard in that category are Charney Audio speakers.  The "Companion " models I heard (with AER or Voxativ drivers) were among the best speakers I've heard at any price apart from custom builds).  Volti makes a few models that are not that compact, but, they also sound good.  In my local area (Washington DC), Deja Vu Audio makes custom built speakers; some are surprisingly compact (not really compact, but small for the kind of sound they deliver).  

"Did these brands spring up from western influence like other areas of Japanese culture..."

Japanese culture is quite old and different from the Western one.

As far as audio goes, they are simply different and we are all better for it.

Good read: 

https://ohmspeaker.com/news/voicing-speakers-my-japanese-experience/

Omega Speaker systems, Omega Speaker Systems from Norwalk Connecticut all speakers between 94.5dB and 98dB efficiency, and are actually reasonably priced.

While social and architectural comments are somewhat true, it’s also because SET (low level) amplifiers paired with efficient speakers is an inward meditative listening experience where all artistic musical nuances get absorbed. This is important in Asian culture.