Artikel ini membahas ikumen sebagai active fathers dalam dinamika peran gender keluarga Jepang kontemporer. Upaya penulis adalah untuk memahami peran aktif ikumen secara komprehensif, baik dalam wacana maupun praktik pengasuhan anak dalam kehidupan sehari-hari, melalui perspektif gender equal parenting. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode studi pustaka pendekatan kualitatif dengan interplanetary theory of complete and universal gender difference oleh Michael Kimmel. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan fenomena ikumen sebagai active fathers merupakan suatu bentuk perubahan sikap (attitudes) dan perilaku (behaviors) ayah dalam konteks peran pengasuhan anak yang pada gilirannya membawa dinamika tersendiri dalam peran gender di antara ayah dan ibu. Wacana dan praktik pengasuhan anak yang lahir dari media seperti Ikumen Project, majalah FQ Japan, NPO Fathering Japan, serta usaha pemerintah dengan digagasnya UU Pengasuhan Anak, turut berkontribusi terhadap peningkatan kesadaran para ayah akan pentingnya kontribusi mereka. Namun demikian, perubahan sikap dan perilaku ayah dalam pengasuhan anak melalui fenomena ikumen ini, belum dapat dikatakan merevolusi habitus bekerja dan pembagian peran gender tradisional dalam masyarakat Jepang.

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This article discusses ikumen as active fathers in the dynamics of gender roles in contemporary Japanese families. The author's effort is to understand the active role of ikumen in a comprehensive way, both in the discourse and practice of parenting in everyday life, through the perspective of gender equal parenting. The method used is a qualitative approach literature study method with interplanetary theory of complete and universal gender difference by Michael Kimmel. The results of the study show that the ikumen phenomenon as active fathers is a form of change in the attitudes and behavior of fathers in the context of the parenting role which in turn brings its own dynamics in gender roles between fathers and mothers. Discourses and practices of parenting born from media such as Ikumen Project, FQ Japan magazine, NPO Fathering Japan, as well as the government's efforts with the initiation of the Child Care Law, have contributed to increasing the awareness of fathers about the importance of their contribution. However, the changes in fathers' attitudes and behavior in parenting through this ikumen phenomenon, cannot be said to have revolutionized work habits and the division of traditional gender roles in Japanese society.