THE PRESENT JAPANESE POLICE SYSTEM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1954. TODAY, JAPAN IS DIVIDED INTO 47 PREFECTURES, WITH EACH PREFECTURE HAVING ITS OWN REGIONAL POLICE FORCE. NATIONAL SUPERVISION OVER THE PREFECTURAL SYSTEM IS DISCHARGED BY TWO NATIONAL POLICE ORGANIZATIONS, THE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION (NPSC) AND THE NATIONAL POLICE AGENCY (NPA). THESE ORGANIZATIONS GENERALLY SUPERVISE AND DIRECT ALL PREFECTURAL POLICE ORGANIZATIONS AND HANDLE COORDINATION AND LIAISON BETWEEN THEM. THE NPSC IS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE PRIME MINISTER, AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE OVERSEEING ALL POLICE OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES RELATING TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE NATION, INCLUDING ADMINISTERING POLICE EDUCATION AND TRAINING, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, CENTRAL CRIMINAL RECORDS, LABORATORIES, POLICE EQUIPMENT, AND CRIMINAL STATISTICS, AS WELL AS COORDINATING MATTERS RELATING TO POLICE ADMINISTRATION. THE NPA IS SUBJECT TO THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF THE NPSC, AND IT DIRECTS AND SUPERVISES THE PREFECTURAL POLICE FORCES IN MATTERS REQUIRING CONTROL AND COORDINATION OF ACTION. THE ORGANIZATION OF PREFECTURES AND THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DESCRIBED. THE AUTHORIZED STRENGTH OF POLICE PERSONNEL AS OF APRIL 1977, THE RECRUITMENT FORMAT, AND THE RANK AND PROMOTION STRUCTURE ARE ALSO OUTLINED. IN EXAMINING THE ORIGINS OF POLICE EDUCATION IN JAPAN, IT IS NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT UNDER THE MEIJI PERIOD REGARDED EDUCATION AS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IN MODERNIZING THE COUNTRY. A POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1880, WITH A REQUIRED THREE MONTHS TRAINING FOR POLICE RECRUITS. IN 1885, THE POLICE TRAINING INSTITUTE WAS CREATED TO GIVE ONE YEAR OF SPECIAL TRAINING TO PROMISING SERGEANTS AND INSPECTORS. BY 1930, ALL PREFECTURES HAD EXTENDED THEIR TERMS OF SCHOOL TRAINING TO FOUR TO SIX MONTHS, AND SINCE 1959, ONE YEAR OF PRE-SERVICE TRAINING AT SCHOOL HAS BEEN GIVEN TO RECRUITS. THE GENERAL PURPOSE OF POLICE EDUCATION IS TO MOLD THE CHARACTER AND SKILLS OF THE POLICE TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES EFFECTIVELY AND WITH INTEGRITY. RECRUIT EDUCATION, EDUCATION FOR PROMOTION, IN-SERVICE AND SPECIAL TRAINING, AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES ARE DESCRIBED. (RCB)