Why didn't Japan pick up on Beast Wars' popularity?

Beast Wars 2 Transformers

Here is a spot where I am very unclear. As I have never left the country, and the Japanese toys and videos are REALLY expensive here, I don't know a thing about the Japanese toy lines. However, I will try to piece it together as well as I can. A relatively unknown TV show was broadcasted for this line, but I know even less about it than I do about Victory: Masterforce (the TV show that featured Pretenders and Powermasters). The same goes for the BWN line. Wish me luck...

The Toys Updated
The Show Updated

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