The only way to find out is to A/B the 2 kits together in a room, but my gut feeling wether or not the Rogers/Yammies are better, the Ludwig's will always command, at least in the west, and probably even the Japanese market. They are also (as Airborne's post shows) extremely pretty.

My two cents; if I was going MIJ I would go Yamaha. They seem to command a good price when sold. I also think of the current drum makers Yamaha still makes very nice high end drums.

Now the player in me says the same as other posters here; A/B the kits in a room and see which one YOU like. I flew back to the states for a couple weeks and had the chance to rent a studio. They supplied a kit far less nice and custom than my Sonor Prolite/SQ2 of the time. To my surprise it sounded good...I mean really good. So you have to ask yourself if a kit sounds about 80% as good for about half the cost - is the rest of the juice worth the squeeze? My guess is in a live or recorded situation most people won't hear the difference.

Buy a kit you like, sounds great and looks cool.