Reuters' George Nishiyama wrote: . . . More and more Japanese men are aiming to join the ranks of the "Cool Dads," in sharp contrast to their own fathers who were known for their "work-till-you-drop" and "leave the kids to the wife" lifestyles.
Magazines have sprung up to guide fathers on everything from "Child-rearing, the Male Way" to "How to Become a Beloved Dad," reflecting the trendiness of being a hands-on parent.
"We're no longer living in an era when it's expected that men go out and women stay home," said Tomohiro Shimizu, publisher of "FQ Japan," which stands for "Father's Quarterly."
"Fathers in their 30s and 40s still feel a bit ashamed of being a doting parent. We want to change that, spread the image that it's natural, that it's cool," added Shimizu, 39, who has a 3-year-old son.
"FQ Japan" debuted in December and the maiden issue featured Depp and the words: "Be a Cool Dad" on the cover. The magazine also ran interviews with celebrity fathers and had plenty of information on parenting products, such as "stylish" buggies.
FQ was first published in Britain in 2003. Shimizu said that when he raised the idea at the time of making a Japanese edition, colleagues said it wouldn't sell.
Perceptions gradually changed, and several parenting magazines aimed at the male reader have now hit newstands, some focusing on education and others even on fashion tips for the stylish father.
PLAYBOYS OUT, FAMILY MEN IN
"Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, David Beckham -- the cool guys, they all have children," said Kiyohiko Okubo, publisher of "Oceans," an up-market fashion magazine. One recent issue ran a feature headlined: "The Coolest Fashion for a Stylish Dad."
"Some playboy-types may have thought it was cool to go out secretly with a woman, make that the highlight of their week," said Okubo, who used to work for a magazine aimed at such readers until he published "Oceans" in February 2006. "But more and more men are starting to feel that the highlight should be time with their family."
Tetsuya Ando, who set up "Papa's Picturebook Project" with other fathers to hold book readings for children, said the economic downturn in the late 1990s led people to realize that there were more important things in life than work.
"With the bursting of the bubble economy and the corporate restructuring that followed, everyone realized that you can't feel fulfilled with just work," said Ando, 44.
One such father is Yuji Yamamoto, who says even changing diapers for his 7-month-old daughter is fun.
"Changing diapers, preparing baby food, it's so exhausting," said Yamamoto, 36, an official at a government ministry.
"But every day her face changes and seeing that is great. It's so much fun." . . . more
I'm thinking of inviting Yuji over to change some diapers for our 2-week-old bub - just for a year or two.
