it is common for fathers to raise their children at home. But Japan has such different expectations for careers and what a family should be, which has made the idea of stay-at-home fathers nearly impossible.
This need for stay-at-home fathers is making progress in Japan, little by little. There is a group of fathers trying to change the standards in Japan. They are called ikumen (a play on words meaning "hunky parent"), they're raising awareness and calling for change and support. Japan is slowly working its way forward by implementing financial support for dads wishing to take paternal leave, as well as opening up options for fathers like public play centers and parenting classes so these dads can be the best they can be.
