We determined the effects of starvation, water temperature, and water flow on the onset of metamorphosis in leptocephali of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica. Leptocephali larger than 50 mm (ca. 200 days old) were reared in 10-L tanks under different feeding, water temperature, and water flow regimes. Fasted leptocephali metamorphosed earlier and faster than did the fed ones. Metamorphosis was faster in the high water flow tank (1.2 L/min) than in the tank with flow at 0.6 L/min. The duration of metamorphosis was slightly shorter at $26^{circ}C$ than at $23^{circ}C$. To conclude, starvation induced the metamorphosis of artificially produced leptocephali larger than 50 mm TL. Increased water flow and water temperature both appear to induce and shorten metamorphosis.