Institutional anomie theory (IAT) explains variations in crime at the societal level by the combination of cultural features and the balance of power between economic and noneconomic institutions. IAT has had empirical support at the national level, as well as within country variation, to explain both street and white-collar crimes. This study sought to explore embezzlement trends within the IAT framework via the economic, family, political, and educational institutions in Japan (1985-2005), a country that emulates some elements of American capitalism yet which has strong collective cultural norms that are known for exerting strong informal social control. By converting the original count data into z-scores, the trends were standardized on the same scale, so variations in economic and structural conditions over time on Japanese embezzlement were easier to observe. The implications for IAT are discussed. Figures, tables, and references (Published Abstract)