Japanese elite university graduates favor trading houses, seek high salaries

A survey of 2,069 students from twelve leading Japanese universities—including Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Keio and Waseda—who are slated to graduate in 2028 revealed distinct gender differences in career aspirations and salary expectations. Male respondents reported an average desired salary of ¥9.87 million at age 30, while female respondents averaged ¥8.53 million, a gap of about ¥1.3 million.

The most popular employers for men were the five major general trading houses: Mitsubishi Corporation, Itochu Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Sumitomo Corporation and Marubeni Corporation, occupying the top five spots. Women’s top choices were led by Itochu Corporation, followed by food and consumer‑goods firms such as Ajinomoto Co., Suntory Holdings and Kao Corp. Industry preferences mirrored these rankings, with 37.4 % of men favoring trading houses and 21.2 % consulting, while 27.5 % of women preferred the food sector and 21.3 % consumer goods. Career goals also diverged: 45.8 % of men prioritized becoming specialists, whereas 49.4 % of women emphasized work‑life balance.