In Japan, fathers traditionally have little to do with child-rearing. But in now, fatherhood is fashionable, and new magazines devoted to young fathers are highlighting the trend…

It is stylish to be a “cool dad” in Japan these days, and it is not uncommon to see young fathers playing with their children in the park. This is in sharp contrast to the previous generation of fathers who were devoted to work, spent little time at home, and rarely communicated with their children…

Tomohiro Shimizu, editor-in-chief of FQ Quarterly, says he published the magazine because he wanted to take the stigma out of being a doting dad and to help men take a more active role in parenting.
“First of all, fathers should not be ashamed of being indulgent and enjoy their time with their children,” he said. “Although they are busy working, they should feel that family is more important than work. Fathers in Japan play much less of a role in raising children than fathers in Western countries and we need to catch up.” …

… According to the International Comparative Research on Home Education, the average Japanese father spends about three hours each weekday with his children. Only South Korean fathers spend less time. Fathers in Thailand spent the most time with their children, almost six hours a day…

Japanese fathers traditionally spent little time with their children because their loyalty was to their company. From the 1960s to the early 80s, many Japanese believed that workplace success was the top priority for men. The absent father was a sign of a successful man…

While Watanabe’s children may grow up to with fond memories of their dad spending time with them, many Japanese men in their 30s and 40s say they do not remember their fathers playing or even communicating with them.

Source: mensnewsdaily.com
http://mensnewsdaily.com/2007/02/21/fathers-are-a-hot-topic-in-japan/