I just wanted to point out the fact that he said Japan's COOL conditions.....

 

Well.......My engine oil has 3000 miles clocked and it still looks like honey, literally. The tolerances they build these machines too is just amazing. That being said, transmissions tend to live a different existence than motors in the specific regard that no combustion takes place there. Granted, you have to take shear into consideration, but unlike a modern motorcycle, the transmission doesn't share the juice with the motor. So I tend to agree with the O.P.
On the other hand, these machines ain't yo' mammas Accord. Taking that into account, many are run on the track and some are merely pleasure machines rarely run above five grand, finding themselves doing duty as grocery getters and commuters. Either would entail different agendas for any and all fluid replacement. So everyone's right here...it just depends on your circumstance.

 

Cool is relative... The record high in Tokyo is 99F and the average high is 66F.

In Dallas the record is 113F and the average 76F, while in Phoenix the record is 122F with an average high of 86F. Like Mark pointed out, it may feel uncomfortably warm there but it is not all that hot in relative terms.

The issue is at hand is lubricant change frequency, and heat is a major factor. The issue I was bringing up was the behavior of the transmission when overheated, where shift quality deteriorates and it grinds unless shifted slowly. It is most apparent when the ambient temp is over 95F so many duck the issue.

 

I dont know if this has been mentioned yet but the manual also explains

(Under Normal Circumstances) these are the intervals in which the fluids should be changed. I sure as hell dont drive under normal circumstances..