Has anyone ever noticed that all Japanese sporty cars have 280hp?

2JZ-GTE = 280 hp
RB26DEtt = 280 hp
VG30DEtt = 280 hp

I heard that there was a tax on vehicles that made more than a claimed 280 hp, so manufacturers would downrate their hp figures to beat the system.
Any truth to this?

EDIT:
here's that carb'd turbo 13B in the 10. www.brianf.com