Recent research focusing on Human Resource Development (HRD) in East Asia is attracting increasing attention. The purpose of the study is to explore the definition and practice of HRD, together with influencing cultural factors, in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan. The results indicate a difference in the definition and implementation of HRD among these three areas, and that the nature and role of HRD are influenced by cultural factors specific to each region examined. [For complete proceedings, see ED491481.]