A review of some of the research and development activities in Japan in the area of adaptive structures is given. The article is based on the authors' participation in the First and Second U.S./Japan and Japan/U.S. Joint Conferences on Adaptive Structures in Maui. Hawaii (November 1990) and Nagoya, Japan (November 1991), their review of the papers presented in these meetings, personal contacts with the researchers, and on-site visitation of the laboratories both in the industry and also in the universities. The review covers the period ending January 1992.