Avatars of adoration for children ~Fictional heroes and heroines andreal-world occupations~
Ayaha Tanaka
Tetsuro Ejima
Aichi University of Education, Japans212m026@auecc.aichi-edu.ac.jp

Abstract: This study clarifies the relationship between Japanese children’s view of real-world
occupations and fictional heroes and heroines. I think heroes and heroines are concrete ideals
for people. Therefore, I deduce that the occupation of such heroes and heroines are ideal
occupations for people. I also believe that people’s opinions are affected by the various media
they use. To clarify the above, children’s actual situation must be understood. Children form
their views of occupations mainly on the basis of their interests. Therefore, I conducted aquestionnaire survey intended for upper-grade elementary school students. This survey mainly
asked about the children’s desired future occupations, the heroes and heroines they admired,and how children use media. In this study, on the basis of children’s ideals, I compare the ways
children see real-world occupations and fictional heroes and heroines. In the future, to compare
between countries and cultures, similar research is needed into the views of people about heroes
and heroines in other countries. Also, opinions about heroes and heroines in American comics,
called Amecomi in Japanese”, especially need to be investigated.

Keywords: Heroes and Heroines, Occupations, Children, MediaIntroduction
The purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship between Japanese children’s view of occupations
and their view of heroes and heroines in the media. The hypothesis is that occupations children want to pursue(Occupations), Occupations of heroes and Occupations of heroines are the same. And the reasons given for children
wanting to pursue certain professions (Reasons of occupations) and the reasons for liking certain heroes and heroines(Reasons of heroes, Reasons of heroines) are the same. Children watch and are influenced by Occupations of heroes
and Occupations of heroines. It will depends on countries, cultures and genders. This study focuses on Japanese. By
the Studies of Fujimoto (2007) and Tanaka (2012), I think the occupations of heroes and heroines can be ideal
occupations for some people. I think such a model applies to children, and Sakakibara (2009) and Takee (1969)
describe the reasons for this influence.

Method and Practice
1. Complete a questionnaire
Contents of questionnaire: occupations, heroes and heroines, use of media
Participants: 193 elementary school 5th and 6th grade students
2. Statistical processing of survey data
Missing values: Missing values were removed. I made two populations (46 and 91 participants).

Results
There is almost no correlation between Occupations and Occupations of heroes and Occupations ofheroines (Table 1). Also, there is negative correlation between Occupations and the percentage of time spent
watching anime (Percentage of anime). However, the details are not clear. There are not many common factors formost of Reasons of occupation, Reasons of heroes and Reasons of heroines (Table 2). However, the reasons, ‘money’,‘family’, and ‘recommendation of parents and teachers’, have some relation. There are two reasons that children
want to pursue a particular occupation: one group includes values such as ‘suitable’, ‘fun’, and ‘cool’. The otherincludes values such as ‘helpful’, ‘money’, ‘family and recommendation of parents and teacher’. They do not have
any relation to gender of participants. Here, ‘suitable’, Reasons of heroes, ‘suitable’ and ‘fun’, Reasons of heroines,are related. Reasons of heroines and gender of participants are also related.
Table 1: Correlation coefficient of Occupations, Occupations of heroes and Occupations of heroines and Percentageof anime (Populations: 46 and 91)
Occupations ofPercentage ofOccupations
Occuaptions of heroes
heroines
anime
Occupations
1 (1)-.041 (.058)-.011 (-.042)-.342* (-.277*)
Occuaptions of heroes-.041 (-.058)
1 (1).297*(.338*).048 (-.044)
Occupations of heroines-.011 (-.042).297*(.338*)
1 (1)-.234(-.119)-.342*(-.277*
Percentage of anime.048 (-.044)-.234 (-.119)
1 (1))
Table 2: Comparison of factors for Reasons of occupations, Reasons of heroes, Reasons of heroines (Population: 91)
Heroes andOccupations
Heroes andHeroines
Heroi Heroe‘family’ ‘parents
Reasons
Occupations
Heroines‘money’nessand teachers’‘Other’‘family’Occupations ‘suitable’

.056

.111

.798

.031-.055-.022

Occupations ‘helpful’
Occupations ‘fun’
Occupations ‘money’Occupations ‘cool’
Occupations ‘family’
Occupations ‘parents

.155
.000
-.097
-.036-.048
.045

-.052
.114
-.010
-.012
.136
.040

.635
.764
.560
.785
.425
.255

.031
-.027
.272
-.009
-.061
.180

-.087
.099
.042
-.035
.239
.025

.272
-.066
.135
.029
.306
.711

and teacher’Occupations ‘other’
Heroes ‘similar’
Heroes ‘helpful’
Heroes ‘fun’
Heroes ‘rich’
Heroes ‘cool’
Heroes ‘family’
Heroes ‘parents andteachers’
Heroes ‘other’Heroines ‘similar’
Heroines ‘helpful’
Heroines ‘fun’
Heroines ‘rich’Heroines ‘cool’
Heroines ‘family’
Heroines ‘parents andteacher’Heroines ‘other’

-.022
.0505
.256
.216
.168
.244
.173

.048
.576
.720
.759
.688
.777
.673

.108
.111
.076
.175
-.027
.045
.052

.243
.190
.191
.240
.077
.060
.079

.078
.267
-.123.126.449-.108.561

-.039
.071
.123
-.151
.070
-.205
.113

.157

.768

-.056

-.199

-.090

.161

.009
.722
.878
.897
.799
.807
.797

.224
.166
.128
.176
.173
.116
.193

-.061
.147
.028.106-.030.015
-.059

.581
.168
.099
.197
-.100.096
-.069

.051
-.059
-.147
-.093
.277
-.002.382.148-.140.167
-.020
-.063
.020
.046

.688

.224

-.125-.250

.007

.175

.306

-.002

-.026

.760

-.308

.132

Discussion
Children seem to think of Occupations and the Occupations of heroes and Occupations of heroines
separately. For this reason, Japanese heroes and heroines and occupations may be hardly related. Also, there is arelationship between the Reasons of occupations and the Reasons of heroes and Reasons of heroines; this is theevaluation or influence from others. Reasons of occupations can be classified into two reasons, related to anindividual’s own evaluation and related to evaluation by others. In the view of evaluation or influence from others,
adoration of occupations and heroes and heroines are the same. But these are not appeals of themself. Conversely, if
they are longed by the appeals of themself, children choose them by each other reasons. This time I found adifference between the genders. A study on a different age group may provide a different result. Also, results will bedifferent if other countries are targeted.

Conclusion
I found that the hypothesis was partly correct, and I have three subjects for further study. First, a study
targeted at another country. Second, to clarify more precisely the characters of occupations and heroes and heroines.
Third, a study targeted at children of a different age group.

Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Mr. Tetsuro Ejima and the members of the elementary school.

References
Koji Fujimoto (2007). Why do people need superheroes?, Cosmica, 37, 59-82.
Ayaha Tanaka (2012). The love, family and society of the hero in Spider-Man, on the basis of the movie Spider-Man 2Ken Sakakibara (2009). Consciousness research report of company telework targeted at elementary school students children see,children do, Japan Telework Society Conference Proceeding (11), 123-126.
Takao Takee (1969). A developmental study of some factors in the individual’s vocational aspiration, Shimane Women’s College
bulletin, 7, 19-31.
Bandai Co., Ltd. (2012). Bandai Children’s Questionnaire Report Vol. 202 ‘What’s your child’s favorite character?.
Benesse Corporation (2008). ICT Use Survey of Children.
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