The purpose of this study was to compare the performance mode of housework related to daily meals. The data for 214 Korean couples living in Seoul and 136 Japanese Couples in Tokyo were collected using structured questionnaires and time diaries. The performance mode of housework were analyzed according to the employment status of wives. The results were as follows; Generally Koreans and Japanese wives had similar patterns in the time use of meals preparation and dish washing. In both nations Husbands seldom participated meals preparation, wives did most part of the work. But Japanese husbands of full-time employed wives spent more time on meals preparation than their Korean counterparts did. Korean wives received more help from other family members and paid labor, on the contrary Japanese wives purchased more ready-made goods for food preparation.