Do layovers count or do you need to enter the country? Do I qualify for 72 hr visa exemption?

Fly from US to Narita (2 hr layover) then to S Korea for a 24hr stay. Then to Beijing for less than 72 hrs then to S Korea (2 hr layover) to Osaka (stay for 48hrs).

Would I still qualify since S Korea (country 1) - Beijing (country 2) - Japan (country 3)