Japanese Americans experience acculturative change while retaining some elements of cultural identity. Differences in the patterning of personality needs among Japanese American women over time illustrate the balance of these two elements. Japanese American female undergraduates completed the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (EPPS) in 1971 (N=79) and in 1979 (N=81). EPPS data were scored by splitting each of the 15 scales into two subscales, yielding 30 parcelled variables. Intercorrelation matrices of the 30 variables were separately factored for each sample. Prototypical groupings within each sample were obtained using Johnson's hierarchical clustering procedure. Results suggest that although some subjects displayed characteristics resembling stereotypic Japanese values, others displayed characteristics more congruent with traditional American values. Data revealed more similarities than differences between subjects in both time periods, perhaps suggesting that Japanese Americans have attained an optimum balance in the values of their bicultural environment. (Author/NRB)