That is the way Japanese gamers like it, apparently.Arrggghhh... 2-3 steps>Combat, 2-3 steps>Combat, 2-3 steps>Combat, 2-3 steps>Combat, 2-3 steps>Combat, 2-3 steps>Combat.
The combat rate is too high! And boring.
They usually slow the encounter rate down on English RPG ports but some of the more recent ones haven't ...
Frankly the encounter rate does need to be lower IMO, more like FF6U is like