2026 Edition: Top 3 "Desired Professions" for New 1st Graders and "Parents' Preferred Professions" are "Cake/Bakery Shop", "Police Officer", "Athlete"

Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hitoshi Kawahara), a chemical manufacturer that produces and sells artificial leather 〈Clarino®〉, widely used in randoseru and other materials, conducted a survey targeting children entering elementary school this spring and their parents regarding their "desired future professions" and "professions parents want their children to have."

The overall rankings from 1st to 5th place remained the same as last year. "Firefighter/Rescue Team" at 4th place garnered support from both genders, reaching a record high of 6.7%, narrowly trailing "Athlete" in 3rd place by just 0.1 points. "Ice Cream Shop" entered the top 10 for the first time.

Compared to 20 years ago, "Athlete," once a dream for many boys, decreased by 10.7 points, falling from 1st to 3rd place. "Police Officer," popular among both genders, increased by 6.7 points, rising from 7th to 2nd place. "Firefighter/Rescue Team," which was 11th, also rose by 3.9 points to enter 4th place, indicating a growing interest in professions that help people.

"Nurse" and "Teacher," consistent top contenders 20 years ago, dropped out of the top 10 as girls' votes decreased. Conversely, "Doctor" and "Childcare Worker" saw increased votes from girls and have secured top positions.

[Image: Figure showing survey results, likely a graph or table]

*Rankings may differ for the same percentage due to ordering based on actual numbers. (Same applies to subsequent pages.)

**Survey Overview**
Target: Children entering elementary school in April 2026 and their parents
Survey Method: Questionnaire conducted among those who purchased randoseru made with 〈Clarino®〉
*Valid responses extracted from internet responses between May 2025 and January 2026.
Valid Responses: 4,000 children (2,000 each for boys and girls), 4,000 parents

Contact for Media Inquiries: Kuraray Co., Ltd., IR & Public Relations Department, Koyama & Kiuchi, TEL 03-6701-1073
*This is the 28th survey for children (from 1999 to 2026) and the 35th survey for parents (from 1992 to 2026).

**■ Top 20 "Desired Professions" for Boys (n=2,000)**

[Image: Figure showing top professions for boys]

**Top 3 Remain Unchanged, But "Firefighter/Rescue Team" Popularity Signals a Potential "Big Three" Era**
This year again, "Police Officer," "Athlete," and "Firefighter/Rescue Team" occupied the top 3 spots. While "Athlete" recorded its lowest percentage at 12.3%, "Firefighter/Rescue Team" in 3rd place achieved a joint-highest 10.8%.

**The Dream of "Athlete" Becomes More Diverse**
Looking at the breakdown for "Athlete," "Soccer" accounted for 52.2% and "Baseball" for 21.2%, with the top two sports making up 73.4%. Other sports mentioned included basketball, track and field, martial arts, and esports.
Compared to 20 years ago, "Soccer's" popularity remains unchanged, but "Baseball" saw a significant decrease of 11.7 points. Consequently, interest has spread to other sports.
The era where many boys dreamed of being the "ace batter" seems to be fading.

[Image: Figure showing breakdown of athlete popularity]

**Preference for Trains Over Airplanes**
The 4th ranked "Driver/Operator" has consistently remained in the top positions for 20 years. Approximately 60% of those surveyed desire to be train drivers (e.g., Shinkansen). "Railway/Transportation related" jobs like conductors have also increased in recent years, ranking 12th this year. "Pilot" is ranked 19th, suggesting that jobs on the ground are more popular than flying among vehicle-related careers.

**■ Top 20 "Desired Professions" for Girls (n=2,000)**

[Image: Figure showing top professions for girls]

**"Cake/Bakery Shop" Remains Unchallenged at 1st Place; "Ice Cream Shop" Enters Top 3 for First Time**
"Cake/Bakery Shop" has been ranked 1st for 28 consecutive years since the survey began. 20 years ago, "Cake/Bakery Shop" and "Florist" were the top two. However, due to the idol boom, "Entertainer/Singer/Model" has been fixed at 2nd place since 2012. "Ice Cream Shop" ranked 3rd for the first time.

**"Firefighter/Rescue Team" Reaches All-Time High of 12th Place, Doubling from Last Year**
"Firefighter/Rescue Team" points doubled from last year, reaching an all-time high of 12th place. Police officers have also been in the top 10 since 2015, making helping professions attractive for girls.

**Growing Interest in "Beauty-Related" Fields**
"Beauty-related" professions such as nail technicians and makeup artists reached a joint-highest 14th place. This may be due to more girls emulating idols, models, and YouTubers, pursuing sophisticated makeup and fashion.

**Many Arts-Related Professions Fall Out of Top 20**
Compared to 20 years ago, many arts-related professions such as "Manga Artist/Illustrator," "Music Instructor," "Ballerina/Dancer," "Musician," and "Painter/Artist" have fallen out of the top 20. On the other hand, "cute" jobs like "Ice Cream Shop," "YouTuber," and "Zoo/Amusement Park worker," as well as essential jobs like "Firefighter/Rescue Team" and "Medical Professional," are increasingly admired by girls.

**What were the Popular Professions 100 Years Ago?**
Kuraray Co., Ltd. will celebrate its 100th anniversary on June 24, 2026. 1926, 100 years ago, was the year Showa began at the end of the year, and cutting-edge youths known as "moga" (modern girls) and "mobo" (modern boys) were active in cities. While the number of salaried office workers increased, women known as "working women" also emerged, working as typists, telephone operators, and clerical staff. "Department store girls" working in glamorous department stores and the later "elevator girls" were considered aspirational professions.

**■ Top 10 "Professions Parents Want Their Children to Have" for Boys (n=2,000)**

[Image: Figure showing parents' desired professions for boys]

**"Civil Servant" Remains Highly Popular; "Firefighter/Rescue Team" Jointly Ranks 4th Highest**
Parental desire for their children's future stability remains unchanged, with "Civil Servant" ranking 1st again this year. "Company Employee" remains 2nd, despite a slight point decrease from last year. Reflecting children's popularity, "Firefighter/Rescue Team" reached a joint-highest 4th place. "Doctor," however, ranked 5th with its lowest-ever percentage of 5.9%.

**[Comparison with 20 Years Ago]**
The biggest increase was in "Company Employee" (+4.1 points), and the biggest decrease was in "Athlete" (-10.2 points). "Specialized professions," "Driver/Operator," "Railway/Transportation related," "Space-related," and "Car Maintenance/Sales" entered the top 20, indicating increased interest in transportation-related fields. Professions that fell out of the top 20 included "Lawyer," "Chef," "Entertainer/Singer/Model," and "Painter/Artist."

**■ Top 10 "Professions Parents Want Their Children to Have" for Girls (n=2,000)**

[Image: Figure showing parents' desired professions for girls]

**Top Ranks Stable with Focus on Qualifications; "Nurse" 2nd but at Lowest Percentage**
The top 3 "Civil Servant," "Nurse," and "Company Employee" remain popular, but all have seen point decreases, suggesting a wider range of desired professions. "Specialized professions" entered at a joint-highest 6th place. Responses indicated a desire for "qualified professions" and "professions requiring specialized knowledge and skills," reflecting parents' wishes for stable careers that are not easily replaced by AI.

**[Comparison with 20 Years Ago]**
The biggest increase was in "Company Employee" (+4.4 points), and the biggest decrease was in "Nurse" (-5.4 points). "Medical-related" professions (midwife, dental hygienist, lab technician, etc.) increased from 2.7% to 6.4% over 20 years, ranking 5th. While medical professions dominate the top ranks, the proportion of "Teacher" and "Childcare Worker," roles involving direct interaction with children, has halved.