Because Japanese society has traditionally emphasized the group rather than the individual, less research has been done to understand how Japanese culture conceptualizes the individual and how that individual develops within the society. This paper focuses on the individual in Japanese society. Following an introduction (Section I), Section II focuses on the self and society in Japan. Subtopics include the personal aspects of self (the "hara"), social aspects of the self, and society and affiliation. Specific topics cover definition, genesis, and components of the "hara" (the self) and its relation to abilities, social behavior, introspection, and the practice of "social moratoria"; social and anti-social behaviors and psychological disorders; and formal and informal modes of social interaction, homogeneity, uniqueness and affiliation, and the dual society. Section III presents cases of learning in Japanese society in the context of the maternal child- rearing process, training in the traditional arts, learning in the schools, and training in the workplace. Section IV examines the life cycles in Japan from infancy through retirement. A seven-page list of project research papers concludes the document. (IS)