In reply to JLS:
I've just read the rules and it seems fairly "clear" to me, but note that this is my interpretation of the rules (how they were followed is another matter). Just going to deal with the men's (to simplify!), the women's should be similar.
If Japan only confirmed Tomoa (and didn't confirm Kai within the 2 week response time), then the other place should first have been offered to Meichi (next best-ranked athlete, not yet qualified), and then (if not confirmed) to Kokoro, and then (if not confirmed) to the next (not Japanese) outside the top 7. The fact that the 2 next best-ranked athletes were also Japanese is (by the rules) not relevant.
Any other (i.e. not Tomoa or Kai if confirmed, or Meichi if confirmed instead, or Kokoro if confirmed instead) Japanese climbers who are within the (remaining) top twenty highest ranked athletes should be selected to compete at Toulouse. The rules do not place any limits on the numbers/NOC qualifying for Toulouse, participation is only restricted to those who have not already qualified from the WC.
Hypothetical situation. The top 22 athletes in the world are Japanese. 2 qualify at the WC. By the rules as written, all 20 places at Toulouse should go to the other 20 Japanese athletes. I don't think this is the IFSC's intent - not well written
Another not well written bit. The phrase in D.2 "not yet qualified through D.1 above" - has someone who has been allocated a quota place from the WC which has been rejected by the NOC "qualified" (in which case Kai, Meichi & Kokoro would not be eligible for Toulouse if their quota place was "rejected"). Or does "not yet qualified" only mean those who's quota place has actually been taken up by the NOC (in which case all 3 should be eligible for Toulouse).
If Japan have confirmed 2 quota places from WC, then no Japanese can get a quota place from Toulouse regardless of their performance there.
If Japan have confirmed 1 quota place from WC, then the highest placed Japanese at Toulouse (assuming in top 6) should be allocated a quota place. If not accepted, then goes to next athlete (whether Japanese or not), etc.
If after all this (and the various CCs), Japan has not yet got any quota places, then it can pick someone as long as they're eligible and have competed at WC or Toulouse or CC.
So, how does Japan guarantee 2 places...
1. Accept 2 from WC; Tomoa + Kai/Meichi/Kokoro
2. Accept 1 from WC and assume that at least one Japanese athlete will be in top 6 in Toulouse.
3. Accept 1 from WC, 0 from Toulouse and hope that CC is won by a Japanese athlete.
4. Accept 1 from WC, 0 from Toulouse, 0 from CC and pray that Tripartate Commission picks Japanese.
The Host Country guarantee does not say "extra" places. So as long as Japan has confirmed at least one quota place from the WC, Toulouse or CC, the guarantee has no effect. The thing that makes it clear that it's not an extra place (to me), is the bit reallocating unused host country places. If these were extra places then the only time reallocation could/would occur would be if the host country had no eligible athletes, or any eligible athletes had not competed at the WC or Toulouse or the appropriate CC.
Simples