Lots of people trying to get out of HKG to Europe or America. Not only no award available on the few airlines that fly from HK, but cash fares are through the roof.
For example, in the coming days for a one way J ticket to Europe, the best deals are well over HKD30K, and usually 40k for the shortest routing.
I was thinking of doing HKG-SIN and then take QR for less than 10K in J, rather than QR from HKK for 40+. But to transit in SIN you need to be on same ticket. You could consider staying a day in SIN as VTL works from HK, but HK is moved from Country I.
Hard to see how you could start from Japan, given current entry restrictions, unless you are Japanese.