The participation of fathers in parenting and care has become a topical issue in public discourse in Japan. The phenomenon is often epitomized in the popular neologism ikumen, defining fathers actively involved in childcare (ikuji) as “cool” men. On the basis of an extended ethnography, the article focuses on a group of men who reject the ostensibly carefree ikumen image and who explicitly and “proactively” (shutaiteki) define themselves as “househusbands.” The article explores the interactive and creative process through which this marginal group of men “crafts” their new identities as self-reliant, responsible caretakers of children and the home. I suggest that these men affirm their potentially new masculine identity through relating to—and differentiating themselves from—three symbolic others: the ikumen, the trendy and cool but not really committed new father; the sarariiman, the epitome of Japanese hegemonic masculinity; and the dedicated housewife (sengyō shufu), the symbol of Japanese femininity. Adopting a perspective that does not hesitate to look at the potential of change in gender relations, the article poses crucial questions about the potential househusbands have to undo conventional understandings of masculinity and fathering—and, through this, “undo gender.”

中文翻译：

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我们不是育门，我们是自力更生的家庭主妇

父亲参与养育和照顾已成为日本公共话语的热门话题。这种现象经常体现在流行的新词ikumen中，将积极参与儿童保育 ( ikuji ) 的父亲定义为“酷”男人。在扩展的民族志的基础上，这篇文章关注了一群拒绝表面上无忧无虑的 ikumen 形象，并且明确和“积极地”（shutaiteki) 将自己定义为“家庭主妇”。这篇文章探讨了这个边缘男性群体“塑造”他们作为自力更生、负责任的儿童和家庭照顾者的新身份的互动和创造性过程。我建议这些人通过与三个象征性的其他人相关联并与他们区分开来确认他们潜在的新男性身份：ikumen，时尚而酷但并不真正忠诚的新父亲；saraiiman，日本霸权男子气概的缩影；和敬业的家庭主妇（sengyō shufu)，日本女性气质的象征。文章采用一种毫不犹豫地审视性别关系变化潜力的观点，提出了一些关键问题，即潜在的家庭主夫必须取消对男子气概和父亲的传统理解——并通过这种方式“取消性别”。