The study reviews the development of Japanese courts and law, noninstitutional treatment, the prison system, female crime and women's prisons, and juvenile delinquency. Although the general crime rate in Japan does contrast with the Western association between increasing crime and industrialization, the crime involvement of Japanese juveniles and women is increasing. Among the noteworthy features of the Japanese criminal justice system are its operation on the national jurisdictional level, uniform recruiting and training procedures, and a system of career civil service for all criminal justice personnel that is free of political pressure. The focus of the Japanese justice system is that certainty of punishment for offenders takes primacy over severity. This is reflected in high clearance rates for all types of crime and relatively lenient criminal sanctions. Principal penalties are noninstitutional, and incarceration is used only in the last resort. The deprivation of liberties and luxuries in prison does not extend to the deprivation of basic cleanliness, a vital necessity of life according to Japanese values. An extensive classification system serves to keep naive and experienced offenders separated in prison. A progressive treatment system, accompanied by emphasis on inmate labor in the prison industries characterize prison life in Japan. Features of Japanese society itself, such as the primacy of an individual's duties and obligations toward others are also responsible for the country's success in curbing crime. Tabular data, an index and a bibliography of over 50 entries are given.