Scholar tops Japanese boys’ list of dream jobs

January 5, 2018

Tokyo- For the first time in 15 years, scholar or scientist topped the list of what Japanese boys want to be when they grow up, according to an annual private-sector survey released on Friday.

The two professions rose from second place in the previous survey by Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co., possibly reflecting increased interest in science after Japanese scientists won the Nobel Prize for the third straight year in 2016, as well as expanded science education.

In the latest ranking, baseball player came second, overtaking soccer player in third, the first time this has been seen in eight years. The result is possibly thanks to baseball star Shohei Otani's move to the U.S. major leagues.

Firefighter or emergency medical technician ranked seventh, up sharply from 18th in the previous survey, while architect jumped from 33rd to ninth.

For girls, a job in a food store was top for the 21st consecutive year, followed by nurse in second place, up from fourth, and nursery and kindergarten teacher in third, down from second. The most popular jobs were almost unchanged from the previous survey.

The latest survey was conducted on 1,100 nursery and kindergarten children and elementary school students in Japan between July and September last year. Jiji Press