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MONTHLY NEWS July 1998 What Japanese Kids Hope to Become as Grownups |
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What do kids in Japan want to be when they grow up? According to a poll carried out recently by a Japanese life insurance company, the most popular choice for boys was "baseball player," while the top pick for girls was "restaurant owner." The company takes the nationwide poll each year. The most recent survey was conducted in 1997 of around 750 boys and girls attending kindergarten or elementary school.  "Baseball player" was chosen by 10.6 percent of the boys polled. It beat out "soccer player" (9.0 percent), which had been the number one occupation for three years running. "Policeman" and "restaurant owner" shared third place with 5.5 percent, followed by "toy store owner" (4.7 percent), "doctor" (3.9 percent), "fireman," and "cook" (both 3.5 percent). It was the first time that "cook" appeared in the top 10 jobs for boys. "Professor or researcher" came next with 3.1 percent, followed by "teacher" and "carpenter," both with 2.7 percent. The most popular choice among girls was "restaurant owner," cited by 16.9 percent. Another 10.6 percent said they wanted to become a "kindergarten teacher," 6.6 percent said "nurse," and 6.2 percent said "flower shop owner." In fifth place came "singer/entertainer" (5.2 percent), up from eighth place in the previous survey, followed by "school teacher" (4.0 percent), "doctor," "pianist" (both 3.4 percent), "veterinarian" and "pet shop owner" (both 3.0 percent). 
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