Comedian and film director Takeshi Kitano topped the list of celebrities named by newly recruited employees as the person they would most like to work for, according to a survey by the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The survey, conducted earlier this month, covered 741 people who have recently joined small and medium-size firms, of whom 707 responded.
Kitano -- better known as Beat Takeshi -- was identified by 43 of the 707 as "the ideal boss."
He was followed by TV personality George Tokoro with 41 votes; Tatsunori Hara, manager of the Yomiuri Giants, with 31; Senichi Hoshino, manager of the Hanshin Tigers, with 23; and Shigeo Nagashima, former manager of the Giants, with 22.
The poll also found that 136 respondents, or 19.2 percent, said they plan to stick with their current employer all the way until they reach the mandatory retirement age.
This was up nearly 5 percentage points from the figure in a poll conducted last year.
"Due to the severe economic and labor conditions, new employees are becoming stability-minded," said an official at the chamber of commerce.