It is more a function of how JAL Global Club works. JAL Global Club gives you more or less permanent mid-tier status on JAL. If you fly 50,000 elite qualifying miles in one year AND apply for the JAL credit card (of, if you are a North American member, pay some fee in the form of miles), you can join JAL Global Club and have status (with lounge access, priority checkin, priority boarding, etc.) for as long as you hold the credit card (regardless of how much or how little you fly JAL).

With JAL joining the Oneworld alliance, they are giving JAL Global Club members Oneworld status even if they don't fly much in a given year.

ANA does something similar, but I understand that ANA Super Flyers Club members get Star Alliance Gold even if they fly fewer than 20,000 miles in a year. To get Oneworld Sapphire status, JAL Global Club members must fly at least 20,000 miles.