Japanese prisons appear to be similar to those in Germany with respect to the facilities, clothing, and daily life routines of the inmates. However, the apparent similarity of the prison systems of the two countries is deceiving. Unlike the correctional institutions in Germany, those in Japan are controlled by a central national agency, the Correction Bureau. Although the systems of both countries have the goal of resocialization, the term has different meanings in each country. Japanese society is still strongly hierarchically organized and is only superficially influenced by western ideas. Correctional justice in Japan aims to influence prisoners to voluntarily adjust themselves to a firmly prescribed place in society. Prison industries and vocational training have central roles and are models of comprehensiveness, organization, and implementation. However, inmates receive minimal compensation for their work. Administrative regulations have gradually changed, but no significant change has occurred in correctional law in recent years. Reference notes