Protocol for a Scoping Review of Paternal Involvement in Childcare in Japan

Children benefit from fathers’ involvement in childcare through improvements in their cognitive, social, educational, and behavioral development. Although Japan has implemented policies supporting paternity leave and work–life balance since the 1990s, women primarily bear childcare duties due to persistent gender disparities, extended working hours, and low paternity leave participation. A comprehensive scoping review is necessary to review current research, determine influential factors, and identify gaps to inform future policies and programs. Methods and Analysis This scoping review will include full-text articles published in English from January 2010 to October 2025 on paternal involvement in Japan, using the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, and EMBASE. Following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and JBI methodology, two independent reviewers will screen titles, abstracts, and full texts with Rayyan software, with a third reviewer resolving conflicts. Data will be charted and synthesized narratively. Results will be mapped using PRISMA-ScR and summarized into three themes: the impacts of paternal involvement on child development; paternal involvement itself; and determinants like work hours and socioeconomic factors.