ABSTRACT
This chapter examines ways in which the boundaries of the Japanese criminal justice system have been shifting as a result of the interaction between three elements: external forces that impinge upon Japan as part of the global effort to harmonize laws and impose universal standards; internal forces arising from both domestic political agendas and bureaucratic actors with roles in the system; and pressures arising out of the experiences of ordinary citizens, which become organized and visible through the activities of social movement organizations.
