Did the Imperial Japanese Navy possess a superior high-seas replenishment capability?
Short answerIt had a very good capability, but not a uniquely superior one; the Royal Navy and US Navy were also proficient.
NotesThe Imperial Japanese Navy began the war with a strong high-seas replenishment capability, but the Royal Navy and US Navy were also effective. American capability became more visible as the war advanced, while Britain's dense base network made much of its routine logistical competence less conspicuous until later operations. Visibility in the historical narrative does not prove technical superiority. Base geography can hide logistical work that becomes obvious only when a fleet must sustain itself far from shore.