Issues addressed are the characteristics of Japanese society that diminish the criminogenic impacts of modernization; factors that account for the significant reduction in serious crime since the early 1960's; reasons why overall rates of juvenile delinquency have been rapidly increasing, especially during the last two decades; and the impacts of maintaining law and order on the quality of life in Japan. After examining international crime trends, this study uses the "routine activities" approach to discuss various social-systems aspects that are apparently associated with law and order in Japan. Of special import are the hypothesized values of the predictors (bonding, target suitability, guardianship, criminal subculture formation, systematic waiver of sanctions, crime prevention activities, and formal labeling). There is little doubt that high degrees of harmony and order have positive consequences for the quality of life in Japan; however, although many if not most members of Japanese society may fail to claim or may surrender some degree of individual freedom in the interest of maintaining domestic order, the Japanese may have gone further than most Americans would be willing to go in surrendering cultural and social freedom. 3 figures, 2 tables, 17 notes, and a 54-item bibliography