Abstract
The purpose of this study was to obtain qualitative factors of the identification with American culture,
as it occurs in the acculturation process through marriage, of Japanese wives of American husbands.
Questionnaires and in-depth interviews were administered to 20 Japanese-wife/American-husband
couples. A qualitative analysis was conducted focusing on whether the husband or the wife takes the
initiative in domestic cultural practices, and whether domestic cultural practices are Japanese or
American oriented. From this analysis informants were categorized into 3 groups. Regarding the wives'
identification with American culture, two qualitatively different processes were extracted. The wives of
"Japanese wife initiated couples" had established their identification with American culture from
experiences before marriage. They kept their identification after marriage and initiated domestic
cultural practices in accordance to that identification. The wives of "American husband initiated
couples", however, first identified with their husbands after marriage before being able to identify with
an American culture that incorporated the husband's views.
