Punitive sanctions are important in Japan where prison conditions are harsh by western standards and some offenders are interrogated without regard for their rights. Japan, however, has a much lower recidivism rate than the United States. In explaining recidivism in the United States, the labeling or secondary deviance perspective has some merit. Differing recidivism rates in the two countries are explained in terms of differences in the individual's relation to society. Most individuals in both countries share common perspectives unique to their own cultures. As an aspect of the individualism emphasized in the United States, the individual is taught to seek personal autonomy and self-importance. The individual learns that he or she should not submit to others but should ascend over them. The defiant offender emerges in the weak and confrontational relationship created between the individual and the society which requires the individual to submit to authority. In order to prove that one is free and still more important than society, the offender is inclined to test social power and make a negative, recidivistic response. Contrary to the conventional labeling perspective that social reaction per se promotes secondary deviance, social reaction provides the context for aggravating secondary deviance. In Japan, the individual admires the society of which he or she is a part. This tendency arises from cultural learning that supports integration of the individual with society. In this context, when socially reacted against, the offender becomes ashamed of the crime, takes the punishment as deserving, and is motivated to prepare for unity with society. The society which reacted against the offender in a hostile manner at first later develops an accommodating attitude. The social view that people are basically good encourages the society to give the offender an opportunity to change. An accommodating approach to the offender results in greater correctional success. Therefore, social reaction against offenders in Japan has less recidivistic consequences than in the United States. 101 references and 1 table