10 Anime Characters Who Hate Their Jobs
6 min read
In anime, many characters find a lot to hate about their jobs. Their co-workers can be bullies, the higher-ups can take advantage of them, and the pay might not even be enough to live off of. However, an income isn’t an easy thing to give up. Societal and cultural pressures can also make quitting nearly impossible, too.
When slackers find employment, this might be their attitude to their new job — unless it’s something that really suits them. Other times, characters might have been optimistic about their job at the start, but they just underestimated the reality of their line of work. A few characters are just stuck in the wrong type of job for them and might find a happy ending by making a switch.
Aggretsuko
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In Aggretsuko, Retusko loathes her desk job, especially as it drives her to death metal. Granted, Retsuko doesn’t have it easy in her job with higher-ups giving her extra work, sometimes including menial tasks like brewing tea. On the other hand, Retsuko also uses her job as a crutch, blaming her office job for nearly all her problems.
Part of Retusko’s motivation to get married is so she can finally leave her job. However, when Tadano offers to support her financially, Retsuko breaks up with him as he doesn’t want to actually get married or start a family.
9/10 Panda Complains About Working Two Days A Week
Polar Bear Café
In Polar Bear Café, Panda is defined by his laziness. Panda technically works at the zoo, but only works twice a week and pretty much lazes around there, too. Despite this, Panda often complains about how much he has to work. At one point, Panda even hopes to get laid off.
Panda’s poor work ethic is actually the main reason he’s at the Polar Bear Café, as his mother keeps getting him to look for part-time work. Despite this, when push comes to shove, Panda can get motivated to work harder. In spite of his laziness, Panda’s shown to have an easy time getting work, once even becoming a CEO.
8/10 Miki Took Her Job Just To Slack Off
Ramen Fighter Miki
In Ramen Fighter Miki, Miki Onimaru is effectively the mascot and a delivery girl for her family’s ramen restaurant. In practice, however, Miki takes advantage of her position to slack off as much as possible. Even when Miki does her job, she rarely manages to make deliveries on time.
If Miki is ever seen thinking positively of the job, like saying it’s exciting, she’s just kidding herself. All in all, Miki is the type of character who simply has no ambition. Even on a day off, Miki is stuck with nothing to do.
7/10 Yukari Falls Alseep At Her Desk
Azumanga Daioh
In Azumanga Daioh, Yukari Tanizaki is the girl’s homeroom teacher and English teacher. Yukari can be extremely apathetic and gets bored easily. She acts more like a stereotypical slacker student, arriving to class late and sleeping during class.
Yukari also has something of a rivalry with her friend, Minamo Kurosawa, the popular physical education teacher. Thanks to this, Yukari occasionally cancels class to have physical education instead. Despite all this, Yukari occasionally takes her job seriously, even punishing her students for sharing her bad habits. Yukari is also surprisingly good with English comprehension.
6/10 Nanami Chose Being A Jujutsu Sorcerer Over A Salaryman
Jujutsu Kaisen
In Jujutsu Kaisen, Kento Nanami used to be a stockbroker and a salaryman. However, Nanami’s job didn’t make him happy. At best, Nanami hoped his job would help him retire young and relocate to another country.
After performing an exorcism and seeing how he helped a bakery worker, Nanami eventually resolved that his true calling was to be a jujutsu sorcerer. Despite this, Nanami retains a serious and hardworking personality. That said, Nanami isn’t too enthusiastic about being a jujutsu sorcerer, at times treating it like a lesser evil than being a salaryman.
5/10 Ume Resents The Kindergarten She Works At, Especially The Payroll
Crayon Shin-Chan
In Crayon Shin-Chan, Ume Matsuzaka is a teacher at Futaba Kindergarten. Ume often bemoans having to work at Futaba Kindergarten, particularly having to deal with Shin-chan, so she’s probably not too serious about her work. Ume actually gets a chance to transfer to another school but ultimately turns it down.
On the other hand, Ume’s low salary is also a source of contempt for her. Ume is known for presenting herself as living more stylishly than she can really afford. Ume once had to live off free supermarket samples after spending most of her income on luxuries.
4/10 Yamazaki Wants No Part Of The Family Business
Welcome To The NHK
In Welcome To The NHK, Karou Yamazaki originally grew up on a dairy farm and winery but felt his family kept planning his life out for him. This inspired Yamazaki to leave farm life behind, go to school, and study game design. The fact that Yamazaki was put into an arranged marriage also factored into this. Ironically, Karou also blames the romanticization of Westernization.
In the manga, Yamazaki also briefly worked at a Host Club, only to get annoyed by the clientele. In the end, talent might not be enough, as Yamazaki doesn’t have much talent for game design. Ultimately, Yamazaki may actually be better off with the family business.
3/10 Emeraude Shows Even Princesses Don’t Always Like Their Job
Magic Knight Rayearth
In Magic Knight Rayearth, Princess Emeraude is tasked with keeping Cephrio safe and sound with her prayers. It’s made clear that Cephiro would be in serious danger without her, as shown when she is seemingly captured by the villain Zagato. However, it turns out that things aren’t exactly what they appear.
Emeraude is actually in love with Zagato and knew her love kept her from offering her whole life to Cephiro. Emeraude orchestrates the whole series in a scheme to free herself from the pillar system and have a more suitable candidate chosen. Tragically, Emeraude could have ended the pillar system of her own will just by sharing her burdens.
2/10 Akira Prefers Zombies To His Job
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
In Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Akira Tendo didn’t have the best time when he worked as a commercial writer. Akira’s job was filled with impossible tasks. Deadlines would change constantly, yet Akira would be punished if he was ever late.
It’s made clear Akira was usually singled out at the workplace, as his co-workers often bragged about the benefits they would get. Things get so bad that Akira wishes he could be the hero of a zombie movie. When zombies actually do turn out to be real and take over, Akira rejoices over not having to work anymore.
1/10 The Life Of A Salaryman Was Not For Saitama
One-Punch Man
In One-Punch Man, Saitama was once a failed salaryman. Technically speaking, the thing that really got to Saitama in his line of work was the stress of actually finding employment. Constant rejections and unemployment had taken their toll on Saitama.
After saving a child from a crab creature, however, Saitama becomes determined to give up on being a salaryman and be a hero instead. Through sheer willpower and training, Saitama became able to take down an enemy with just one punch.
