JAPAN, WITH ITS 100 MILLION INHABITANTS, HAS 716 PROFESSIONAL PROBATION OFFICERS (INCLUDING SUPERVISORS AND ADMINISTRATORS), COMPARED TO THE 11,000 PROBATION OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES, WITH ITS POPULATION OF ABOUT 200 MILLION. JAPANESE PROBATION OFFICERS RARELY SEE THEIR CLIENTS, SINCE THEIR PRIMARY ROLE IS TO TRAIN AND SUPERVISE VOLUNTEERS TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE CLIENTS. THERE RARE APPROXIMATELY 50,000 VOLUNTEERS. A 'SPECIAL SELECTION COUNCIL,' AFTER A CAREFUL INVESTIGATION, CHOOSES THE VOLUNTEERS FROM THE CANDIDATES RECOMMENDED BY THE LOCAL VOLUNTEERS; AFTER WHICH THEY ARE OFFICIALLY APPOINTED BY THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE. THE QUALIFICATIONS LISTED FOR A VOLUNTEER BY LAW ARE THAT HE MUST BE RESPECTED BY THE COMMUNITY, BE FINANCIALLY STABLE, AND HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE VOLUNTEER WORK. VOLUNTEERS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO BE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE IN EMERGENCIES, WHICH EXCLUDES MOST EMPLOYEES WORKING FIXED HOURS. THE OCCUPATIONAL BACKGROUNDS OF THE VOLUNTEERS INCLUDE BUSINESSMEN, SHOPKEEPERS, FARMERS, FISHERMEN, RETIRED PERSONS, HOUSEWIVES, MINISTERS OF RELIGION, RETAILERS AND MERCHANTS, CIVIL SERVANTS, AND MEMBERS OR DIRECTORS OF CORPORATIONS. MOST OF THE VOLUNTEERS ARE OLDER PERSONS, WITH ONY 18 PERCENT BEING UNDER THE AGE OF 50. SOME STUDIES CONDUCTED OF THE VOLUNTEER PROBATION OFFICER SYSTEM INDICATE THAT IT WORKS BEST IN RURAL AND SMALL-TOWN TRADITION-BOUND AREAS WHERE 'OLD AGE WISDOM' IS MORE RESPECTED AND PATERNALISTIC RELATIONSHIPS COMPENSATE FOR AGE GAPS AND CLASS DIFFERENCES. IN THE AUTHOR'S OPINION, THE WEST CAN LEARN FROM THE JAPANESE SYSTEM IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: THE STRESSING OF THE OBLIGATION OF THE PROBATIONER TOWARD HIS PROBATION OFFICER TO INDUCE HIM TO SHARE THE OFFICER'S VALUE SYSTEM; THE RECRUITING OF RESPECTED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO HELP THOSE ALIENATED FROM THE COMMUNITY; THE RECRUITING OF PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS TO SUPERVISE VOLUNTEERS; THE USE OF OLDER PERSONS WHO NEED TO FEEL USEFUL IN THE COMMUNITY; AND THE CONFIDENTIALITY PRESERVED BY THE PROBATION OFFICERS IN TERMS OF THE STATUS OF THE CLIENTS SERVED. (RCB)