Japanese 9-Year-Old Robot Enthusiast Shocks Nation by Acing Electrician Exam

In Sakai, located in Western Japan, a third-grader aspiring to become a robotic engineer in the future has successfully obtained the national certification for the "second-class electrician" license.

Rei Shimada, aged 9, from Kita Ward in Sakai City within the Osaka Prefecture, participated in an examination aimed at teaching fundamental concepts of electrical circuits. When asked about his aspirations, Rei stated, "My dream is to create robots with feelings that assist humans."

Rei loves engaging in tag with his buddies at local parks and diving into video games. Additionally, he is acquiring skills in conversational English and practicing Japanese calligraphy. According to his parents, Yosuke and Ruriko—who are both 43-year-old radiologists—he is an eloquent and competitive kid, quite similar to the youthful Zen monk character from the classic Japanese animated series "Ikkyu-san."

At the age of four or five, Rei became fascinated with developing robots after watching the robotic character Korosuke in the TV anime series "Kiteretsu Daihyakka," thinking to himself, “I want to create something like this.” When he turned six, he began attending weekly classes close to his home to study both robot construction and programming.

The junior electrician’s license is crucial for performing electrical installations in houses and shops as well as various other structures. This examination takes place biannually and comprises both a theoretical paper covering fundamental principles of electricity and building techniques, along with a hands-on competency assessment. Encouraged by his dad who successfully cleared this written portion three years back, Rei plans to pursue certification during the latter part of the 2024 financial year.

The written examination encompasses numerous kanji characters that aren't typically covered in third-grade curriculum. To assist his son, Yosuke instructed him on the pronunciations and definitions of these kanji and had him practice with previous decade’s exam questions, which ultimately contributed to Rei's achievement.

One of the 13 assigned challenges provided beforehand was the practical skills test, which necessitated proficiency in handling various scenarios. Despite his efforts, Yosuke struggled to find organizations or venues willing to offer guidance; many turned them down citing Rei’s limited physical strength since he was only in third grade. Nonetheless, Seisho High School located in the urban district of Settsu agreed to accept him. During those months from November to December of the previous year, every weekday, Yosuke made round trips lasting an hour and a half each time just so Rei could attend these evening classes twice weekly.

Teachers Masakazu Takada, aged 48, and Yoshiyuki Kobuki, 25 years old, offered their assistance. They guided Rei through various tasks, including the challenge of trimming several wires with specialized pliers which demand significant force; this often meant applying pressure using one’s body weight while working in an upright position.

Rei concentrated on rectifying errors from the classes and seemingly continued practicing at home, referencing YouTube for guidance. Both Takada and Kobuki observed that Rei is a truthful kid who strives to get better. They also mentioned recognizing signs of frequent practice since Rei’s skills improved noticeably over time.

In late January, Rei successfully completed the examination, an uncommon feat for someone in their third year. He commented, “Taking the written test felt akin to piecing together a jigsaw, and during the practical assessment, I discovered the pleasure of crafting.” His mother, Ruriko, chimed in, saying, “We were about ready to throw in the towel, but we’re delighted he stuck with it and triumphed.”

In order to inform others that he managed to pass the exam even with insufficient physical strength, Rei decides to share the resources and tools he utilized. YouTube Under the alias "Denko Shonen" (which roughly means "Electrician Boy"), some of the instruments were presents from Yosuke’s connections as a thank you for acing the theoretical test. These tools were conveniently sized and manageable for Rei to handle.

He conveyed his gratitude for the backing he received from numerous grown-ups, stating, "I appreciate all of you. My aim is to strive diligently to grow into a robotics engineer."

(Originally written in Japanese by Tatsu Shingu from the Osaka City News Department)