Smoothest int'l - domestic connection in western US - where?

Question for those in the know:

I'm looking to travel nonrev from Japan to Miami in a week or so. KIX (Osaka) would be the ideal starting point of my trip, there are nonstop flights to LAX and SFO from there. Of these two, I believe SFO is easier (=quicker) to get through and make the connecting flight, but the last afternoon flight to MIA leaves in 2 hrs 19 mins after the KIX flight arrives at SFO. Assuming all flights are on time, do you think I (as an EU passport holder) stand a chance? Would it be better to give up the fastest connection and wait for the night flights? Or should I fly out from Tokyo and aim for a connection in IAH (Houston) or DFW (Dallas) with more time to make it? Or maybe there are better ideas altogether? Any suggestions are welcome!

My last visit to US west coast was over twenty years ago and things must have changed since... :)

JAL to DFW is probably your best option. Faster customs, 787 nonstop, gate access (D Gates), great food and you cut off 2 hrs in US to get to MIA.

Welcome aboard Pochikun. There' a seat for you down front and the snacks are straight back.
LAX or SFO? A little more info would help us to factor in the variables.
Airlines - time of arrival/departure - checked luggage

Generally 2 hours is the minimum transfer time at LAX depending on, if our flight is using TBIT, the flight's arrival time and how long it takes you to exit the plane. *wink* Add clearing immigration/customs , checked luggage, the queues at your domestic T and how fast you can navigate a series of tunnels, corridors/catch a (slow moving) shuttle or run between terminals and it could easily be 3.
And yes things have certainly changed on the west coast in 20 years - traffic, it's gotten a lot worse. *wink*

I'll second D2's suggestion of a DFW connection. In addition to the JL flight, AA has 2 daily flights from NRT-DFW which could be your back up. From DFW, there are many flights between DFW-MIA as well as DFW-FLL.

Thank you everyone for the welcome and sharing your views. NRT-DFW looks like it is getting full, with JAL sold out and AA almost too. Then, I realized there is an UA connection from Narita via Denver. As far as I can see there also appears to be room for us non-revs. It arrives a bit late at Miami, but for what looks like a stress-free flight and ample time to make the connection it is small price to pay I think.

Good Luck..

FWIW, we made it, NRT-DEN-MIA. Trouble free until at the departure gate in DEN, where they told us the flight to Miami was full. Luckily for us, there was some no-show and we got in. Later I heard there were passenger reroutings due to the forecast bad weather in the north, maybe that is why the plane got full. Anyway, all's well that ends well...

Thanks for updating. The non-rev travel gods & weather gremlins, they can make you miss a flight, and/or help you to make one.