Hi Don,
You know how to put me on the spot.
But to the truth on this the best I know it. More current Certified and Candidate AKCA Judges have been to Japan than have not. The majority of those have been one time, but I am just going off the top of my head remembering past conversations with them. I could easily be wrong about the number of times as the average. There are several that have been more than 5 times. Some many more than that.
Most of the judges I know much at all, and haven't been to Japan yet, seem to have the goal of going to Japan as part of their "ingrained" person. They know they need to go, and it is close to their heart. The primary reason isn't necessarily to get better at judging but to go to "mecca" (and all that means). Getting a better eye is one nice side benefit. I think a club or the AKCA helping one of these people that haven't gone yet is a nice thing, but probably really tricky. Politically. Not that I haven't ever called a spade a spade.
Not sure the money help matters much to some, but to others probably would make the difference.