James Fuccon is the father of the titular family and the husband of Barbara Fuccon. He is presented as an American businessman whose job transfer to Tokyo necessitated the family's relocation to Japan. In his early forties, James embodies the role of the family patriarch, though this position is often portrayed as tenuous, requiring him to keep a watchful eye on his son Mikey's mischievous nature and his wife's gentle reasoning to maintain his authority.

James possesses a cheerful and carefree personality, frequently using laughter as a mechanism to evade or defuse uncomfortable situations. He is typically supportive of his son, even if his ideas for the family are often outlandish. A significant aspect of his character is the stark contrast between his presented persona and his private actions. While he is married to Barbara, James is not above having extramorous affairs, most notably with a Japanese secretary, revealing a duplicitous and self-centered nature. As the series progresses, these traits become more pronounced, with James evolving into a more overt womanizer while his wife grows increasingly paranoid about being replaced. He has taken a substantial fifty-year loan on his home, adding a layer of financial precariousness to the family's cheerful facade.

In the narrative, James serves as the instigator of many family schemes and is a primary source of the show's surreal humor. His relationships are complex and often dysfunctional. His bond with his wife Barbara is marked by a mixture of affection, infidelity, and occasional neglect of their son, with early sketches showing them bonding over sex while ignoring Mikey. The inconsistencies in his character are notable; depending on the episode or sketch, he and Barbara can range from being abusive and neglectful parents to concocting schemes to help their son. One of his most significant hidden relationships is with his childhood sweetheart, Christina, who is the mother of Mikey's friend Emily. Both James and Christina project their unresolved feelings for each other onto their children, as Mikey and Emily resemble the pair in their youth. This hidden history complicates his role as a father and husband. In one storyline, it is revealed that James has an illegitimate son, Mac, who is an identical look-alike to Mikey.

James's most defining ability, stemming from the show's unique production, is his perpetual, frozen smile, a characteristic of the mannequin used to portray him. This unchanging expression contrasts sharply with the often absurd, dark, or morally questionable dialogue and situations, creating a core element of the series' surreal and comedic tone.