2026 Edition: Top 3 'Future Dream Jobs' for New First Graders and 'Jobs Parents Want Them to Have' Are 'Cake/Bread Maker,' 'Police Officer,' and 'Athlete'

Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hitoshi Kawahara), a chemical manufacturer that produces and sells Clarino® artificial leather widely used in randoseru materials, conducted a survey targeting children entering elementary school this spring and their parents, asking about their 'future dream jobs' and 'jobs parents want them to have.'

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

Compared to 20 years ago, 'Athlete,' which was a popular dream for many boys at the time, dropped by 10.7 points from 1st to 3rd place. 'Police Officer,' which has gained popularity among both genders, increased by 6.7 points, rising from 7th to 2nd place. 'Firefighter/Rescue Worker,' which was 11th, also increased by 3.9 points to 4th place, indicating a growing interest in jobs that help people.

'Nurse' and 'Teacher,' which were consistently high-ranking 20 years ago, fell out of the top 10 due to a decrease in votes from girls. Conversely, 'Doctor' and 'Childcare Worker' have increased their votes from girls and are now firmly established in the top ranks.

*Ranks may differ for the same percentage due to ranking based on actual numbers. (Same for subsequent pages)

[Survey Outline]

Target: Children entering elementary school in April 2026 and their parents

Method: Questionnaire administered to those who purchased a Clarino randoseru

*Valid responses extracted from internet responses between May 2025 and January 2026

Valid Responses: 4,000 children (2,000 boys, 2,000 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 since 1999 and the 35th survey for parents since 1992.

■Top 20 'Future Dream Jobs' for Boys (n=2,000)

Top 3 Ranks Unchanged, But 'Firefighter/Rescue Worker' Popularity May Usher in an Era of Three Strong Contenders

This year, 'Police Officer,' 'Athlete,' and 'Firefighter/Rescue Worker' again occupied the top 3 positions. While 'Athlete' recorded its lowest percentage at 12.3%, 'Firefighter/Rescue Worker' in 3rd place reached a tie for its highest ever at

10.8%.

Aspiration for 'Athletes' Tends to Diversify

Looking at the breakdown of 'Athletes,' 'Soccer' accounted for 52.2% and 'Baseball' for 21.2%, with these top two sports making up

73.4%. Other sports mentioned included basketball, track and field, combat sports, and e-sports.

Compared to 20 years ago, the popularity of 'Soccer' remains unchanged, but 'Baseball' saw a significant decrease of 11.7 points. This indicates a broader interest in other sports.

With an increasing number of dream choices, the era when many boys aspired to be the 'ace and cleanup hitter' seems to be fading into the past.

Trains More Popular Than Airplanes for Transportation

'Driver' in 4th place has consistently maintained a high rank for 20 years. Looking at the breakdown, about 60% hope to be train drivers, such as for Shinkansen. 'Railway/Transportation related' jobs, such as conductors, have also increased in recent years, reaching 12th place this year. 'Pilot' was 19th, suggesting that for transportation-related jobs, those on the ground are more popular than those in the air.

■Top 20 'Future Dream Jobs' for Girls (n=2,000)

'Cake/Bread Maker' Remains Unwavering at 1st Place, 'Ice Cream Shop Worker' Enters Top 3 for the First Time

For the 28th consecutive year since the survey began, 'Cake/Bread Maker' was in 1st place. 20 years ago, 'Cake/Bread Maker' and 'Florist' were the two strong contenders, but due to the idol boom, 'Entertainer/Singer/Model' has been consistently in 2nd place since 2012. 'Ice Cream Shop Worker' ranked 3rd for the first time.

'Firefighter/Rescue Worker' Reaches Record High 12th Place, Doubling from Last Year

'Firefighter/Rescue Worker' doubled its points from last year, reaching a record high of 12th place. Police officers have also been consistently in the top 10 since 2015, indicating that jobs helping people are becoming attractive professions for girls as well.

Growing Interest in 'Beauty-Related' Professions

'Beauty-related' professions, such as nail artists and makeup artists, reached a tie for their highest ever rank at 14th place. It may be that more girls are pursuing makeup and fashion that rivals adults, inspired by idols, models, and YouTubers.

Many Art-Related Professions Fall Out of Rankings

Compared to 20 years ago, many art-related professions such as 'Manga Artist/Illustrator,' 'Music Instructor,' 'Ballerina/Dancer,' 'Musician,' and 'Painter/Artist' fell out of the top 20. On the other hand, more girls seem to aspire to 'cute' jobs like 'Ice Cream Shop Worker,' 'YouTuber,' and 'Zoo/Amusement Park Worker,' as well as essential work like 'Firefighter/Rescue Worker' and 'Medical Professions.'

What Were Popular Professions 100 Years Ago?

Kuraray Co., Ltd. will celebrate its 100th anniversary on June 24, 2026. 100 years ago, in 1926, the Showa era began at the end of the year, and in cities, cutting-edge young people called 'moga' and 'mobo' (modern girls and modern boys) walked the streets. As the number of salaried workers increased, 'professional women' also emerged, working as typists, telephone operators, and office workers. Department store girls working in dazzling department stores, and later elevator girls, were apparently aspirational professions.

■Top 10 'Jobs Parents Want Their Boys to Have' (n=2,000)

'Public Servant' Remains Steadily Popular, 'Firefighter/Rescue Worker' Ties for Record High 4th Place

The desire for children's future stability remains unchanged every year, with 'Public Servant' again taking 1st place. 'Company Employee' dropped in points from last year but remained in 2nd place. In line with children's popularity, 'Firefighter/Rescue Worker' tied for its highest ever rank at 4th place. On the other hand, 'Doctor' was 5th, and its percentage of 5.9% was its lowest ever.

[Comparison with 20 Years Ago]

The biggest increase was 'Company Employee' (+4.1 points), and the biggest decrease was 'Athlete' (-10.2 points). 'Specialist,' 'Driver,' 'Railway/Transportation related,' 'Space related,' and 'Car Maintenance/Sales' were added to the top 20, indicating increased attention to transportation-related fields. 'Lawyer,' 'Chef,' 'Entertainer/Singer/Model,' and 'Painter/Artist' fell out of the top 20.

■Top 10 'Jobs Parents Want Their Girls to Have' (n=2,000)

Top Ranks Stable with Focus on Qualifications, 'Nurse' at 2nd Place but with Lowest Ever Percentage

The top 3 of 'Public Servant,' 'Nurse,' and 'Company Employee' remain popular, but all have seen a decrease in points, suggesting a broadening range of desired professions. Also, 'Specialist' reached a record high of 6th place. Looking at the breakdown, there were many responses like 'professions requiring qualifications' and 'professions requiring specialized knowledge and skills,' indicating a parental desire for stable jobs that cannot be replaced by AI, even if vaguely defined.

[Comparison with 20 Years Ago]

The biggest increase was 'Company Employee' (+4.4 points), and the biggest decrease was 'Nurse' (-5.4 points). 'Medical Professions' (such as midwives, dental hygienists, and laboratory technicians) increased from 2.7% 20 years ago to 6.4%, reaching 5th place. While medical professions dominate the top ranks, the percentage of 'Teacher' and 'Childcare Worker,' which involve working with children, has more than halved.