Why on earth would you commend this behaviour?
I appreciate that my judgement of this behaviour depends on the street, but from my experience of Tokyo, the streets are not particularly wide, or busy.
If it is possible to cross sufficiently safely without walking to the cross walk why walk to the cross walk?
Eventually, everyone would be looking for a chance to cross the road without using a crosswalk = jaywalking, which is exactly what has become the norm in some countries.
In some cities, you put your life on the line every time you cross the road.
I am not exaggerating.
Do you really want that to become the norm?