The purpose of this study was to examine American and Japanese fathers' perspectives of fathering. The participants consisted of 25 American and 25 Japanese fathers. The data came from written responses of American and Japanese fathers. Qualitative analysis of the data yielded the following three themes: family structure and its influences, involvement with children and childrearing goals. These fathers described similar perspectives regarding fathering, and they were influenced by their own fathers' childrearing practices. American participants had more divorced parents than their Japanese counterparts, and they had less involvement with their own fathers during childhood, while all Japanese participants had both parents and had involved fathers. American participants considered fathers as persons who balance love and discipline, while Japanese participants viewed fathers should share childrearing with their wives. American men wanted to know how to help with children's spiritual development, while Japanese men desired to acquire childrearing skills.