In the realm of Japanese anime, there is a wide variety of lifestyles and career options available to its characters. Plenty of characters in drama, comedy, and slice-of-life anime live in the real world and have jobs such as office employees, restaurant owners, novelists, and more. But not just anyone can be given a 9-5 desk job and be expected to like it.
While some characters would thrive in office jobs making spreadsheets or leading meetings, others would find it agonizing and quit before their first day is even over. These characters aren't necessarily delinquents or slackers, either. In many cases, they are creative, free-spirited people who need room to explore and innovate on their own. A stuffy office is no place for them.
10 Najimi Osana Would Find Office Work Dull (Komi Can't Communicate)
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It's easy to imagine Shoko Komi becoming a social worker or Hitohito Tadano accepting the first office job offer that comes his way. Their mutual friend, the ultra-extroverted social butterfly Najimi Osana, however, is a whimsical, creative person who enjoys entertaining and connecting with others.
With such a personality, Najimi would find office work intolerable and soon quit. Instead, Najimi would do better as a counselor, an elementary school teacher, or maybe a performer, such as a stage actor or musician. Anything to wow the crowds and shine in the spotlight.
9 Mikey Needs To Run Free (Tokyo Revengers)
Majiro Sano, better known by his nickname Mikey, is a tough-talking delinquent who can beat almost anyone in single combat. Mikey is a wild antihero shonen character who has a sense of honor and loyalty but only in the context of street gangs where delinquent brotherhood means everything.
Mikey has his kinder moments, but he could never give up this lifestyle completely and become an upstanding member of society. He'd much rather ditch school and run free with his fellow Toman members and see what kind of trouble they can stir up. It's tough to imagine him getting any kind of formal job in adulthood, let alone an office position.
8 Anya Forger Would Fall Asleep At Her Desk (Spy X Family)
Anya Forger is an energetic child who also happens to be a telepath. She has saved the day more than once with her bold creativity, kindness, and mind-reading prowess, but she is also a terrible student who can't stand studying. She can barely sit still or stay awake in class, as opposed to Becky and Damian.
Anya means well, but not even she can fully overcome her aversion to studying for her foster parents' sake. When Anya grows up into a young woman, she will probably seek out a humanitarian job in Berlint and stay far away from accounting forms and office buildings.
7 Tsukasa Shishio Hated The Old World Order (Dr. Stone)
Tsukasa Shishio couldn't stand the corruption and greed of 21st century Earth, what with all those wasteful wars, inefficient governments, and greedy business leaders ruining life for the common folk. In the new Stone Age, Tsukasa embraced nature-based anarchy and vowed to create a simpler society instead.
Even after Senku redeemed Tsukasa, though, it's unthinkable for Tsukasa to accept an office job or anything similar to that. It would remind him of the corrupt world he sought to destroy, and he would find it boring anyway. He only feels alive when he's fighting with his fists to protect his little sister and his friends.
6 Mina Ashido Can Only Express Herself Through Heroism (My Hero Academia)
Mina Ashido is one of several UA students who express their intelligence through creative, resourceful moves on the battlefield rather than book smarts. Unlike her classmates Tenya Iida and Momo Yaoyorozu, Mina gets terrible grades and dislikes studying. So she wouldn't like college or an office job, either.
Fortunately, as a talented girl gifted with a great Quirk, Mina has other options. She has always been a bold, people-oriented do-gooder, and that is why she is one of UA's most flamboyant and enthusiastic student heroes. She fights hard so office employees can work in peace.
5 Marin Kitagawa Should Work In Fashion Instead (My Dress-Up Darling)
Marin Kitagawa is what's known as a genki girl, an energetic, fun-loving girl who would much rather meet new people and go on adventures than sit down and focus on paperwork. She would be miserable in an office, but Marin does have other career prospects to consider.
Marin is a cosplay enthusiast, and she has learned much from Wakana Gojo, too. As a young lady looking for work, Marin could make money as a model for fashion magazines, launch her own cosplay shop, or even become a tailor to really challenge herself. She'd rather leave the spreadsheets to someone else.
4 Ran Akagi Fights The System (Tokyo 24th Ward)
Ran Akagi is a cyberpunk hacker activist who is much more interested in questioning and challenging authority figures than working for them. Most of all, he is opposed to the 24th ward's oppressive governing body, most of all mayor Gori Suido himself. Major companies might be suspect, too.
Ran is a free spirit who expresses himself through hacktivism and street art, not by working for the man in a 9-to-5 job. He would do well at a software development firm or a computer repair shop, but he'd rather fight the power on the streets with his pals.
3 Hayase Nagatoro Has No Clear Direction In Life (Don't Toy With Me, Ms. Nagatoro!)
Unlike her love interest Naoto Hachioji, the sadodere troublemaker Hayase Nagatoro didn't demonstrate any serious skills or interests in the Nagatoro! anime aside from playing fighting games. She may have the potential to get into college or find a decent job, but an office job seems unlikely for her.
Hayase's own personality is the deciding factor here. She isn't necessarily a bad student, but she is also restless and energetic, and she would rather interact with people than interact with a word processor at a desk job. Her career prospects probably lay in the service or entertainment industries instead.
2 Iori Kitahara Won't Take Anything Seriously (Grand Blue)
The seinen comedy series Grand Blue features a variety of characters who would all suffer in an office job, and in some cases, characters who would suffer working any job at all. Chisa Kotegawa is preparing for a career in diving, while her cousin, Iori Kitahara, and his friends are a different story.
Iori is an irresponsible troublemaker who can't resist cheating on tests, accepting bizarre challenges, and generally annoying everyone around him. He may be a college student, but he'd rather do anything else than study, graduate, and find an office job.
1 Kyo Sohma Would Rather Train (Fruits Basket)
Unlike his kuudere cousin Yuki, who might put up with an office job, the popular tsundere Kyo would refuse to accept any office job. He would much rather find manual labor jobs to support himself and Tohru as young adults living on their own. He sees no need to make it big to show off.
Kyo is more interested in martial arts, and that's how he can really express himself. It's not clear what kind of job he got after he grew up and married Tohru, but it likely wasn't an office job. Even if Tohru urged him to seek such a job, Kyo would have to say no.