Past research has so far indicated that, with visual half field presentation of ideographic characters, there is right hemispheric superiority (left visual field effects) for Japanese subjects. Other studies have shown opposite laterality effects for Chinese subjects. In the present study, Japanese and Chinese subjects were required to recognize English words and characters presented either to the right or left visual field. The results showed a right visual field superiority effect for both Chinese and Japanese subiects. Factors that may be responsible for this result are discussed.