Fender Japan run frequency?

Every year Fender Japan releases instruments for their domestic market. Some stick around (like artist signature models) whereas other releases are for the year only. Best bet would be to check Shop Fender | Electric Guitars, Acoustics, Bass, Amps and More

Edit: if you would like to order instruments from Japan, I recommend イケベ楽器店Website　|　日本最大級の楽器通販サイト[新品・中古・アウトレット] or T.KUROSAWA & CO.,LTD.

 

I know what you mean about the colours, lefty models tend to come only in black, white or sunburst

Try buying second-hand from Reverb and Arnis Lefthand Bassplayer Community, they get some nice lefty Fender Japan basses from time to time. I scored two CIJ Fenders from there, a lefty 5-string Jazz (yes, Fender 5-string lefty, ultra-rare) from Arnis, and a lefty '62 reissue Jazz from Reverb. The 5-string is sunburst (normal), the '62 has a dark red colour that I think might be CAR, only it's darker and not as vibrant, but still nice nonetheless (not to mention rare for a lefty)

The reason I suggest second-hand is because from what I've noticed, the original Fender Japan line (pre-2015) was more lefty-friendly than practically every other Fender branch, and they did have some nice colours for their lefties. The new Fender Japan line (2015/2016-present) is basically like Fender USA, they only make standard models for the lefties and only in basic colours.

You want a Japanese Fender for uniqueness? Look for the older ones

 

They build all year round.

The problem you face lies with FMIC, to protect the US built image only a tiny number of Fender Japan instruments are allowed for export. The top tier goodies stay in Japan.

 

Think that's been the policy since the mids 80's.

 

I would recommend checking the webpages linked above periodically to see if there’s anything that you would like to import

 

I would rather say since the mid 90's, when Fender Mexico started to play the role, Fender Japan had before. During the early 90's, before Fender Mexico started to produce the classic series that replaced the MIJ vintage models, even top tier goodies were available for a short time like the Duck Dunn '58 and the Noel Redding '65 Jazz.
Fender Japan didn't stop to export instruments with the Fender logo in the mids '80s, they started in the mids 80's after the Squier JV and SQ series.

But it is true, that the high-quality instruments with nitro finish etc. or the early 1982 JV instruments with US pickups and electronics and a Fender logo never were officially exported and part of what Fender offered outside of Japan. But this didn't stop in the mids '80s - it never started.
Fender Japan was what Fender Mexico is today. Now only few are exported for higher prices or just single runs like the very high quality second version of the MIJ Fender VI bass a few years ago.