By NIKHIL SABNIS, age 11
Many students and their families went shopping over summer break to find a backpack that fit them for the new school year — perhaps because their old one tore last year, or perhaps just to start the school year with something new. Maybe you were one of them. Not in Japan.
Japanese students in elementary school get one high-quality randoseru, a Japanese backpack, often purchased by their grandparents, that they keep from first grade through sixth. Randoseru are unique backpacks that have a rich history and cultural background.
First, there are several aspects of randoseru that make them so practical. Randoseru are heavy backpacks, usually made of leather or synthetic leather, made with a wide opening for textbooks, binders and lunches. They have multiple lockable pockets and one large flap that covers all the pockets. Most often, they are a box-like shape with a curve toward the top. Unlike fast fashion, these bags are made to last.
According to the New York Times, when filled with textbooks and daily items, randoseru can weigh up to nine pounds. And the Guardian reports that some students complained that these heavy bags hurt their backs after walking in the heat home. So why is the randoseru ubiquitous among elementary students in Japan?
Randoseru are more than just a book bag for students — they have a complex history and origin. Randoseru initially began as a military bag from the Netherlands, called the ransel. It was first introduced to Japan in the late 19th century. Then, schools for elite families, such as the imperial family, decided that an expensive, leather bag inspired by the ransel would be carried by their students. Later, randoseru were used by school children during World War II, a time when school was seen as part of military preparation.
“After the war, the country [Japan] mobilized again, this time to rebuild an economy with dutiful, compliant workers. In recognition of the strong solidarity symbolized by the randoseru, some large companies would give the backpacks as gifts to the children of employees,” explains Motoko Rich for the New York Times.
Soon, having randoseru became a cultural tradition. Traditionally, boys carried black ones and girls carried red or lavender ones, but today they come in many colors. Today, buying and receiving randoseru bonds Japanese children, their parents and their grandparents. There are even ceremonies for the randoseru buying season, like one conducted earlier this year by Sony in Tokyo. Company president Hiroki Totoki described the randoseru ceremony as “an important bond that connects families.” At the event, the company’s 66th, 250 rising first graders each received a randoseru from the company.
