Approximately Half of Current High School Students in the Reiwa Era Respond, "I Don't Want to Be Myself If Reborn"
Wakamono Research conducted a survey among high school students nationwide asking if they would want to be themselves if reborn. The results showed a close split, with approximately half responding "no." This press release also serves to promote the company's survey services for companies targeting teenagers and Gen Z.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 05:16 (18h 45m after Collected)
In everyday conversations, the topic of "What if I were ○○?" is a classic discussion that excites all generations. Everyone has thought about imagining a different life or becoming a different person at some point, and young people in the Reiwa era are no exception. Just how many young people want to be themselves if reborn? "Wakamono Research," a marketing information site targeting teenagers and current high school students (https://wakamono-research.co.jp/media/), conducted a survey among high school students (male and female) nationwide asking, "Would you want to be yourself if reborn?" This time, we will introduce some of the results.
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[To Companies]
Teenage and Gen Z surveys like this article can be conducted for your company's products and services.
・Want to utilize the real voices of teenagers and Gen Z for product development
・Want "buzz-worthy data" that can be used for PR
・Want to create projects that get picked up by the media
Wakamono Research can design a consistent process from "survey → article creation → media exposure." In fact, there are cases where PR utilizing survey data led to media coverage and social media dissemination. Why not design a "buzz-worthy survey" with us?
▶Achievements and inquiries here: contact@wakamono-research.co.jp
▶Wakamono Research Co., Ltd. HP: https://wakamono-research.co.jp/
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[High School Students Who Want to Be Themselves If Reborn: "I Like Who I Am Now"]
As a result of this survey, 53.5% of students answered "yes (I want to be myself)" and 46.5% answered "no (I don't want to be myself)," indicating a close split in opinions.
First, looking at the reasons for wanting to be themselves if reborn:
"I have the most fun as myself"
"Because I know many good things about myself"
"Because I have a wonderful family and friends"
"Because I've met great friends and am living a fun, lucky life, all things considered"
Such opinions, primarily "because I like who I am now," were dominant. The feeling of liking oneself is not narcissistic; it suggests an affirmation that includes "the people I met because I am me" and "the relationships I've built in this environment." These words seem to come from a sense of fulfillment in their current school life and human relationships.
Additionally, some bold responses included:
"Because I'm good-looking"
"Because I'm cute"
"Because I'm a genius"
"Because I'm the strongest"
Such overly confident answers that might make one smirk were also observed. To be able to say this much is refreshing, conveying the vigor and good spirits typical of high school students. Such overly positive self-evaluations can be said to be one characteristic of today's young people.
Other opinions included:
"If I'm reborn with memories, I want to advance my life advantageously"
"I want to live the same life again and choose a path I didn't choose this time"
"I want to live a different path as myself"
The background to these answers reveals a contemplation of another possibility, wondering "what if I had done things differently back then?" It was an answer that hinted at a somewhat game-like value system of changing the future with different choices based on one's current self.
And finally, there was a heartwarming and impressive answer that made one's heart flutter just by reading it:
"Because I want to date my current girlfriend again if reborn"
Meeting his girlfriend was possible precisely because he was "his current self"; if he had been born as someone else, that relationship surely wouldn't have been born. It was a very heartfelt and impressive answer, making one imagine even thinking, "If it weren't me, I couldn't make her happy!!"
[Why About Half of Young People Desire "A Life Different from My Current Self"]
On the other hand, 46.5% of high school students answered "I don't want to be myself if reborn." The most common reasons among them were:
"Because I want to experience a different life"
"Because I'm curious about other timelines"
"Because I want to enjoy a different life"
"If I can be reborn, I want to live a different life"
These answers showed that many young people are interested in "another life" out of curiosity, rather than specifically disliking themselves or wanting to be someone specific. They are curious about another life.
===================================================================
[To Companies]
Teenage and Gen Z surveys like this article can be conducted for your company's products and services.
・Want to utilize the real voices of teenagers and Gen Z for product development
・Want "buzz-worthy data" that can be used for PR
・Want to create projects that get picked up by the media
Wakamono Research can design a consistent process from "survey → article creation → media exposure." In fact, there are cases where PR utilizing survey data led to media coverage and social media dissemination. Why not design a "buzz-worthy survey" with us?
▶Achievements and inquiries here: contact@wakamono-research.co.jp
▶Wakamono Research Co., Ltd. HP: https://wakamono-research.co.jp/
===================================================================
[High School Students Who Want to Be Themselves If Reborn: "I Like Who I Am Now"]
As a result of this survey, 53.5% of students answered "yes (I want to be myself)" and 46.5% answered "no (I don't want to be myself)," indicating a close split in opinions.
First, looking at the reasons for wanting to be themselves if reborn:
"I have the most fun as myself"
"Because I know many good things about myself"
"Because I have a wonderful family and friends"
"Because I've met great friends and am living a fun, lucky life, all things considered"
Such opinions, primarily "because I like who I am now," were dominant. The feeling of liking oneself is not narcissistic; it suggests an affirmation that includes "the people I met because I am me" and "the relationships I've built in this environment." These words seem to come from a sense of fulfillment in their current school life and human relationships.
Additionally, some bold responses included:
"Because I'm good-looking"
"Because I'm cute"
"Because I'm a genius"
"Because I'm the strongest"
Such overly confident answers that might make one smirk were also observed. To be able to say this much is refreshing, conveying the vigor and good spirits typical of high school students. Such overly positive self-evaluations can be said to be one characteristic of today's young people.
Other opinions included:
"If I'm reborn with memories, I want to advance my life advantageously"
"I want to live the same life again and choose a path I didn't choose this time"
"I want to live a different path as myself"
The background to these answers reveals a contemplation of another possibility, wondering "what if I had done things differently back then?" It was an answer that hinted at a somewhat game-like value system of changing the future with different choices based on one's current self.
And finally, there was a heartwarming and impressive answer that made one's heart flutter just by reading it:
"Because I want to date my current girlfriend again if reborn"
Meeting his girlfriend was possible precisely because he was "his current self"; if he had been born as someone else, that relationship surely wouldn't have been born. It was a very heartfelt and impressive answer, making one imagine even thinking, "If it weren't me, I couldn't make her happy!!"
[Why About Half of Young People Desire "A Life Different from My Current Self"]
On the other hand, 46.5% of high school students answered "I don't want to be myself if reborn." The most common reasons among them were:
"Because I want to experience a different life"
"Because I'm curious about other timelines"
"Because I want to enjoy a different life"
"If I can be reborn, I want to live a different life"
These answers showed that many young people are interested in "another life" out of curiosity, rather than specifically disliking themselves or wanting to be someone specific. They are curious about another life.