Japan is a country that values fiscal responsibility and economic security, and that can influence how people judge a possible romantic partner. For example, we previously looked at a survey in which an overwhelming number of women said they’d rather date a man who’s ugly but rich than a guy who’s handsome and unemployed.
That doesn’t mean that just any old job will do, though. A new poll asked Japanese women what jobs were deal-breakers for a potential boyfriend, and the resulting list includes some surprisingly high-paying professions.
Women’s interest Internet portal My Navi Woman conducted the survey during March of this year, receiving 206 responses from women aged between 22 and 34. Let’s dive right into their dating landmine field with a look at the top six responses.
6. Pilot (7.4% of respondents)
Starting off with a surprise, the number six answer was pilot, which in the Japanese job market generally means a commercial airline pilot. Despite the necessary intelligence and skill for the role, plus the accompanying salary and cool factor, maybe some women just don’t like the idea of their guy being gone for days at a time on international routes, gallivanting all over the sky with a crew of perky young flight attendants.
5. Small business owner (7.9%)
A recurring theme of the list is that the respondents seemed to place more of a premium on stability than absolute earning potential. While owning your own business allows you to soar as high as the free market allows, it also means there’s no safety net to catch you if you fall, and the difference between success and failure is sometimes a single-minded devotion to work that leaves no time for romantic dates.
4. Teacher (10.9%)
In general, Japan has a deep respect for educators and learning institutions, but some of the women polled seemed to feel that deference can go to a teacher’s head even once he steps outside the classroom. “A lot of teachers are very logical people,” observed one 33-year-old respondent. “They have too many of their own convictions, and whoever they’re talking to, they sound like they think they’re superior to them.”
“I have the impression that many of them have a narrow-minded way of thinking, and lack common sense,” added another woman.
There’s also the fact that many teachers take their position of molding young people’s minds pretty seriously. “I think the school would always be his priority,” speculated one woman, “and his private life would be secondary.”
2 (tie). Medical practitioner (12.4%)
Wow, seriously? Doctors couldn’t catch a break with this group of women? Once again, a lack of stability seems to have hurt Japan’s healers. Aside from concerns about their prideful personalities, some worried that the busy, irregular hours of medical work would leave them handling all the child-rearing duties should the relationship lead to marriage and kids.
That wasn’t the only family issue, either. Japan is dotted with small, privately owned clinics, which are sometimes passed down from parent to child. The result is families made up of generations of doctors, and more than one woman worried about measuring up to the lofty standards of the potentially elitist parents of a boyfriend from the medical field.
2 (tie). Beautician (12.4%)
The ratio of male to female beauticians in Japan is much more even than it is in many other countries, and being a male hairdressers doesn’t come with the stereotyped stigma that you’re not interested in females. Some of them, however, won’t be interested in you.
Being a successful hairdresser in Japan often requires not only keeping up on the latest trends and radiating a stylish image, but also being outgoing and able to chat enthusiastically with anyone. But while that’s all good for the salon’s bottom line, some women aren’t sure a beautician boyfriend could turn it off when he finishes his shift, and worry that he’d end up being a flakey social butterfly in his private life.
Then there’s the 25-year-old financial worker who’s not sure she wants a guy with such a keen eye for detail. “I think he’d be really outspoken and critical in his opinion of how I look,” she says.
1. Food industry worker (14.4%)
As social norms change, men in Japan are gradually becoming expected to do more housework, meal-preparation included. That doesn’t mean the women in the survey want their boyfriend doing it professionally, though.
At least in the eyes of the survey respondents, restaurant work seems to combine the worst of both worlds, with low pay and irregular time off as a result of having to serve dinner and weekend patrons. “They don’t seem to make much money,” fretted a 24-year-old apparel worker, “and they’re so busy, I don’t think we’d have anything left over for each other, and we’d just fight all the time.”
Still, all else equal, a guy who enjoys fine food and drink is a good thing, right? Well, maybe not so much the second part, it seems. “People who work in the food industry tend to like to drink a lot,” said a 33-year old respondent, “and they’re bad drunks.”
Source: Peachy
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Cheaters beware – 30 percent of Japanese women have checked their boyfriend’s cell phone -- “I think I love you…”: Romantic confessions from around the world -- Hungry for love – 10 dishes Japanese men want their girlfriends to cook for them
© Japan Today
68 Comments
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Novenachama
There are men in certain professions that I would definitely not date such as a police officer. They are probably the worst professional men to date. Soldiers because they will get involved with any and everybody. Artist, DJs, entertainers have no respect for women and women mean nothing to them. Politicians are good liars and can charm women then deny when you catch them in the act. Salesmen like car and insurance are smooth talkers who can get you to do anything. Models have there fill of beautiful young women at every turn and pilots have those attractive hostesses that they have to spend so much time with. How can you trust them.
sensei258
@ Novenachama - How can you say that all members of any group act in any particular way? Actions are not mandated by a persons profession, but are a matter of personal choice. Being a military veteran with a son in the Army, I took particular offense at this statement "Soldiers because they will get involved with any and everybody".
jokamachi
I'm surprised they didn't say English teachers. That's a dodgy group all around... and I should know.
theFu
So ... they want a salary-man? Yuck. Just kill me already. If I had to go to the same desk job, even if it wasn't boring, day after day, I'd rather have a bullet in the head.
Noliving
Interesting how being a male porn star isn't on the list..............
sensei258
@ Novenachama - "...are smooth talkers who can get you to do anything". As if you had no choice in the matter.
Chris Redfield
these woman just seem shallow and very critical of a type of guy they probably have never dated and are just simply assuming this is what people in those professionals are like, its quite sad to know any woman would turn a nice guy down simply because of the job he has. tho i have noticed from other polls it seems that most Japanese woman don't even know what they want from a partner but money tends to be the deciding factor in Japanese culture when it comes to dating, i work hard for my money but i'm not loaded so the simple fact i'm a hard worker a kind person and fun to be around but very mature and serious when it is needed wouldn't really matter at all to a lot of woman in japan. no wonder the population is increasingly dropping, give that nice guy a chance! take a chance and stop playing it so safe.
umbrella
Women only want 2 things from a man. He must be good in bed of course and his wallet must be thick. That's all.
onagagamo
English teachers in Japan must rank pretty poorly too!
cleo
None of the professions listed would bother me particularly, except perhaps the doctor, and it would depend what kind of doctor. I wouldn't want my man spending his days up to his elbows in blood and guts, then coming home and hugging me and the kids. For more or less the same reason, vivisectionists, military types, slaughterhouse workers, animal farmers/hunters, fishermen, medical researchers.
Dunno what Novenachama has against police officers. My sil is a police officer, and he's lovely, a wonderful husband and father.
The only alternative to a pilot, a teacher or a small business owner is a salary-man, right.
Tessa
I've heard horror stories about this! Very often the sons are extremely spoilt, and not good husband material at all.
HighLama
That's the problem right there. The premise of this survey is that certain professions or groups of people are not worthy of love. What's the next survey gonna be - what nationalities they don't want to date?
gaijinfo
OF COURSE they want a salary man. The dude's never around, can't get fired and represents a steady paycheck.
For many J-girls, that's about as good as it gets!
All of the benefits (the money) and NONE of the hassle (that pesky husband to deal with).
sf2k
All I see is a premise that just reinforces that women only see men as a wallet.
Yubaru
sf2k....yup.
If a "woman" is looking for a guy based upon his profession then I say leave her alone, she aint worth the time nor effort and I hope she stays single for her entire life.
People SHOULD be looking for mates based upon compatibility and hopefully love.
Wolfpack
Typically it comes down to chemistry - at least initially. Unless the woman is committed to simply finding a man to provide the maximum level of economic security possible, two people can find in very hard to overcome natural attraction. However once the thrill of the new relationship fades the guy must be able to offer something to meet the woman's expectations. That's where guys on the list must be able to meet those expectations or find themselves dumped. In other words, just because a women may have something against a guys occupation - there is still a chance. ;-)
M3M3M3
Although it's not given as a reason, I suspect some of these jobs are on this list because love affairs are so common in Japan. Beauticians, doctors, teachers, and pilots are probably stereotyped as being potential philanderers just because they work with other women.
nath
Jerry Seinfeld had a bit that men don't care at all what their girlfriends do for a living, slaughterhouse and all. If true, apparently men as a whole are much less shallow than the women that completed this survey. If someone has an honest job, isn't that enough for your needs? or must you control what they do when you aren't around as well?
Y Japanese People
One of the great stupidities of women is seeking from the get-go a husband and father instead of just dating and having a boyfriend first and giving him a chance to work his way up to filling the role of husband and father or actually proving he can handle it on the job rather than just pass the interview.
This list also suggests they want to have their cake and eat it too. Earning money means losing time with him. Its a given.
And if you have an established career what is wrong with an unemployed guy? Believe me, no man with a job will turn down a woman on the basis that she is unemployed. The thing about jobs is, they come and go. Personality, potential and even looks are more enduring than a job!
Articles like this make me feel its no wonder this country's dating scene is in the dumps. I fully admit that men also have their own stupid modes of thought, but at least a guy will allow things to begin. Women go through life stomping on the brake pedal, then complain that they never get anywhere!
HonestDictator
While the medical profession might be pretty pathetic in Japan, its only because its not really taken professionally serious. Of course in my country anyone can be a med practitioner and some do have to work overtime or on call and some don't. Not all of those who become doctors/nurses/etc come from wealthy families, or have it as a "family profession".
But a lot of these appear to be shallow perceptions of many different careers and jobs. Only things that need to be considered is work stability, and time management between work and family.
CGB Spender
@Novenachama prejudiced just a little bit?
The women who where asked (which is likely a small minority and doesn't tell the whole story) want a boring salary man who is at work all day long and brings home his income regularly. Everything else is too risky for their mundane, organized lifes that they spend in the safety of their restrictive comfort zones where never ever anything really cool happens. I'm glad I'm not part of that!
Jimizo
'maybe some women just don’t like the idea of their guy being gone for days at a time'
I heard the exact opposite from all the married Japanese women I know. I haven't met one yet who wasn't enjoying her husband's frequent business trips. My father was a sailor and away for four months at a time and my mother said that was the secret to their very happy marriage. It's no surprise sailor isn't on this list.
sarukaze
This was just a survey with a list of choices. Choice was circled given the limited options listed. It means nothing more than that. I would guess that even if a woman fell in love with someone who had the job that she chose from a list on this survey that she answered she wouldn't totally discount him because of a choice she once made on a survey from My Navi Woman.
wtfjapan
my Japanese wife married me when I was just starting out in my business making an average wage, now my business is successful oh and I make much more than your average salaryman and spend less hrs at work than they do. she could see my potential when i probably didnt.
onedragon
I got news for you J girls,the days of lifetime employment working for the same company are long gone.
Ali Khan
this is disappointing because it underestimates a person just because of the profession in which he works, it also reminds me the traditions and culture where marriage cannot be happened just because one person belongs to a particular professional families, this is very common in the third world countries, especially in india.
Pukey2
I hope there was a second question in this survey, namely, what can YOU offer to a prospective husband. It's all ME, ME, ME. And please don't say looks - they can and will fade. Nowadays, there are plenty of men who will say no, if the wife expects to be able to have afternoon tea with other wives everyday, spa, shopping with the hubby's credit card, and basically doing sweet FA when there are no children in the household.
Qamar
Never judge a whole group of people.
frank07
Isn't that what this survey is about, judging people? The only difference is that they asked more than one person.
coskuri
Surprising. In real life, I have observed the contrary, these professions are nearly the fav ones. Just had elite sarariman. Maybe it's Kansai only. In Osaka there are matchmaking agencies dedicated to wife doctor selection and, the candidates are very numerous. Teaching at stewardess school, I met so many girls that wanted to work as a stewardess even just for a week in order to grab a pilot hubby. Idem for cooks, many young guys wanted to do the job because chefs, bar and restaurant owners are very popular with ladies (well, the case is different for the freeter working shifts in Yoshinoya). Trendy hairdressers with improbable hairdos and make-up are just a rank under rockstars and hosts, with fans fighting for their attention and unlike the 2 other categories, they are guys one can possibly introduce to family (ok surely not the same for the barbers for grandpas). Male teachers... well, I've seen so many of them, gaijins and locals, attractive or meh, dating students and the 'rumor' that they manage to marry the girls of rich families is not false. The only one case I'd say is plausible is about business owners that are not rich, or not yet. I have not met many J-women of the young generations that would want to be partner, in life and/or in business of a start-up entrepreneur... and it's sad as the happiest families I've met in Japan were those of couples managing a business together.
Dating, selecting your darling is about judging people... Profession determines a lot in lifestyle. If you want to live in a big city, you don't want to date a farmer. If you want to live in a mountain village, you don't want to date a urban sarariman.
MarkG
Very shallow. As a man I'd date any profession except prostitute. As mentioned above, it's about chemistry.
Bondsan
For equality's sake let's have the male version of this poll .. should be fun :)
noypikantoku
Very Shallow! no wonder why many men prefers to date animation characters and sex dolls....
daito_hak
"Japan is a country that values fiscal responsibility and economic security"
To the author.
You can probably express your point more precisely and save as much as five words (the last five) by replacing them just by "money". You see? Sounds more accurate and goes straight to the point.
Don't thank me, you are welcome.
Kanade
I've noticed it before but I do agree with a lot of people here that Japanese women are very pragmatic when choosing men. They want a lot of attention and a lot of money. I hate that side of Japanese women to be honest. And how could you not want to date a doctor??? That's probably the sexiest profession alive, lolol. I know about irregular hours but it seriously does depend. My mom's a doctor and she never really gets overtime and stuff, it depends on the sphere. And pilots? Why? This survey is really stupid. Japan's too much into stereotypes
Iwandabaka
The last guy a Japanese woman would want to marry is someone like me, at least that's what my wife told me.
Wc626
Spot on. Japan is into stereotypes. And the survey makes about as much sense as Japanese womens' logic as a whole.
jounetsuyume
i have a career and work to support myself and I expect any partner to do the same... profession is irrelevant as long as it provides for their needs on its own...
nath
The 'survey' was on online survey catering to the readers of a specific site, with only a 206 replies. The only thing to be concluded from this 'survey' is what those 206 women think. What Japanese women think cannot be concluded whatsoever.
Todd Topolski
So technology guys apparently are Ok. I guess if you can program code for long hours right in the house, then who cares.
So What I get from this is all men should exclusively go for prostitutes. After all they will be less expensive and you know what your getting for the cost. why not as it seems with a wife your paying for her Anyway. Why not pay and not have to deal with arguments, lack of trust and other problems men get to experience from wives and girlfriends. Especially if you are one of these undesired professions.
commanteer
Wow. And the safety net for a salaryman is....?
Still too many women (and even men) in Japan with illusions about job security. They press their husband to work like a dog at a boring job for a modest salary and little future - and they really still believe that he will be employed for life.
At least an entrepreneur will have the skills to start making money again, whatever life throws at him. Suddenly unemployed salarymen are rarely prepared that way.
SwissToni
Be honest fellas, if almost any woman says yes you'll climb right on and stick around only as long as you're getting your way. The only difference between you and the women in the survey is they are trying to make choices beforehand.
Sueume
I don't think it's shallow to consider the lifestyle of the person you plan to marry. I doubt anyone would rule out any of these professions across the board, they just rated them as less desirable based on perceived negatives, some of which are true. For example, my friend's son works in the food industry (a patisserie). His hours, along with the hours of everyone there, including the owner, are ridiculous! He works from 6am to 3am the next morning during busy seasons, and is lucky to get home before midnight even in less busy seasons. He gets only one day off per week (a week day) - he is so exhausted that pretty much all he can do on his day off is sleep. And, of course, holidays are mostly work days as well. He has absolutely no time to even think about dating!
I'm married to a teacher, and am always so thankful that he loves kids and has relatively lots of time off, but he works at a private school. Public school teachers get much less time off.
timtak
The obverse questionnaire by the same web portal asking which professions women want to marry were http://woman.mynavi.jp/article/150310-22/ 4) Salaryman (gaijininfo was right) 3) Member of the self defense forces (that surprised me. Even Japanese women are right wing? The reason given was because soldiers (by any other name) look good and are not often at home!) 2) Public employee (secure income, saturdays off) 1) Doctor (high income, will look after me, won't be at home!)
I thought that these days the sentiment that "hubby's well and best out of the house" (亭主元気で留守が良い) from a commercial in 1986 and chosen as a catch phrases for that year but it seems opinion is divided. The reason why doctors figure on both lists is perhaps partly for this reason.
The original survey is here http://woman.mynavi.jp/article/150420-14/
kurisu77
Kenneth Gardner
If I am reading this correctly, then lawyers and gas station attendants are the only ones left.
nath
@SwissToni And this matters how? It is still the essence of shallow. That vaunted female intuition really isn't anything at all of value, apparently.
Tessa
this is very, very true. More women should think that way. And by the way, Japanese women are very swift to dump a suddenly unemployed salaryman husband if his prospects in the job market aren't good. Heck, I'm acquainted with women who threatened to dump their husbands for getting paycuts.
Hawkeye
who gives a poop what Japanese girls not women want to date or marry. Most Japanese women are really screwed up mentally and socially from my experience. They have a list of what they want or don't want so how about a list of what you should be like Ms. Japan with al your BS demands, lousy social skills and can't cook to save your life and rely on packaged meals you just heat up.
Tessa
Don't bother asking, because the answer is that she'll still continue living at home with her parents! I know women in their fifties who are still doing that!
pointofview
You know society is taking a downward spin when dating an individual is based on their job title.
Brian Wheway
Iam a self employed tree surgeon and landscape gardener, dam!, I am not on the list! so I am done for.
Christopher Glen
Supporting links please. I think you'll find Japanese women to be the exception to the rule
ebisen
FF's sake, stereotype much recently?
Thunderbird2
Going by some of the comments I feel as if I just entered a "Let's hate Japanese women" club... jeez.
Christopher Glen
Simple advice here: Date the man, not the profession
presto345
Hahaha. We previously looked at a survey. What survey, whose survey, how conducted, how many participants, how were the questions put and the responses influenced? Overwhelming number. Oh, really? How many?
This is pseudo entertainment, balderdash, meaningless sensation. It amazes me to see how many people get exited about this. I think in reality most women will just follow their heart. Let's not hate them because of this silly 'survey'.
Kaal Singh
@presto345, very true. Plus this survey is causing generalisation.
BBoppie
This article makes Japanese women sound like a fickle lot with an interest in the narrowest of views!
Therese Marie V. Yamanaka
I look for partner with a good background, kind, compassionate, respectful, loving, because knowledge is power he has to be smart, and he should be my "soul mate," too.
Anthony Lawson
So glad that my wife isn't one of these mindless drones. She met me when I was unemployed, partied a lot, and travelled all over the world. Now, I am a Business owner, who still travels all over the world only in First Class; parties hard ( my wife included ), we are in the top 2% of earners and I am a Physician. So glad that my girlfriend in 2006 wasn't one of those respondents.
Black Sabbath
While you may have money, you have no class.
nickstery
I guess I'd be put into the small business owner category, but I personally always make time for friends and family. Also, having the romantic dates really help me unwind and enjoy what I do. I have a flexible schedule, disposable income and have to really understand people. Furthermore, any of my future kids can inherit the business if they want to. But I do agree about the safety net.
SwissToni
@scipantheist, it is the exact opposite of shallow. Whereas most of us fall into our life partnerships by meeting people in a seemingly random way and seeing how things gel, the surveyed women are attempting to stack the odds in their favour. Shallow is to lurch unthinkingly from one relationship to the next without learning anything.
Wc626
Hawkeye nails it shut.
Serrano
"Interesting how being a male porn star isn't on the list"
Har!
nath
I'm watching TV right now, and they are asking 93 girls what the ideal profession of their husband would be (結婚したい男性の職業). The rankings:
5) Doctor 5% 4) Pilot 6% 3) Famous person (芸能人) 10% 2) Salaryman 18% 1) Public employee (公務員) 19%