Past experience has taught me that once the Japanese adopted something imported from China, it would frequently follow its own evolutionary path. There are a number of sects of Japanese Buddhism, each with different emphases. While the juzu is a mala, there is at least one sect (Jodo Shinshu) that insists it is not for counting and simply wraps it around the hands during prayer as an aid to mindfulness of the Buddha.

Clearly, I have a great deal more study to do on this subject.