depende kung saang part nung range ka titingin, pero usually Fender Japan pa din.
If you compare the "standard" models, I'll take the MIM. Its about the same price as an MIJ "standard", has alder or poplar instead of basswood and the hardware will be easy to upgrade because the knobs and control plate will fit CTS pots and CRL switch. The Am. Std. will have alder but the pickups aren't really that much better the MIM's (IMO). and for the price you can get an MIM na lang AND pretty good pickups, pots, switch and saddle upgrades.
when you go higher up the model scale, the MIM gets left a little behind. You'll then be comparing an MIJ '52ri (swamp ash body with dimarzio or fender texas specials) to an MIA '52ri (swamp ash body with fender OV or nocaster pickups) to some upscale MIM model (meron nga ba?) and at this range, medyo malaki na yung price difference between an MIA and MIJ. You'll be able to antiquity pickups na for the price difference, callaham control assembly and glendale saddles na.