We present scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) observation of the 3 X 1 reconstruction of the Ge(lll) surface induced by the adsorption of Na and Li. The STM images of the Na- and Li-induced Ge(111)3 x 1 surfaces reveal substantial differences not only from each other but also from those of Si(111)3 X 1 induced by the same metal atoms. We suggest plausible interpretations of these STM images within the structural models proposed for the alkali-metal-induced Si(111)3 X 1 reconstruction having similar atomic structures but different electron bonding configurations.