School bag material manufacturer Kuraray surveys new elementary students every year when they buy their first school bag, asking them what they want to be when they grow up.

Among boys, the allure of being an “athlete” reigned supreme, capturing 16% of the responses, with “police officer” and “firefighter/rescue worker” following closely behind.

On the other hand, girls overwhelmingly favored careers in the confectionery world, with over 20% expressing their desire to be a “cake shop worker/baker,” marking the 26th consecutive year for this trend.

My oldest wanted to be an artist when he entered elementary school. He still wants that. My youngest wanted to catch yokai but also to be a baseball player.

Notably, the role of “researcher,” particularly in the realms of dinosaurs and insects, witnessed a surge in popularity among the mixed-gender group, entering the top 10.

Does catching yokai count as a researcher?

LINK: Cake shop worker remains dream job for many children starting school