23/10/2026
A tour of a Japanese backpack factory... 🎒
Japanese elementary school backpacks, called ‘randoseru’, are a common sight in a country where almost every student uses the same style of bag. The backpacks trace their history back to the late 1800s, although they didn’t become truly ubiquitous until the 1950s. Traditionally they were only red or black, but in the last few decades there has been a boom in different designs and colours.
A ‘randoseru’ bag is distinctive for its surprisingly light weight despite its hard, shell-like exterior, which is said to protect students if they fall backwards and can be used as a floatation device. A single bag can cost up to and above 50,000 yen ($316), although they are used for all six years of elementary school, with the straps being adjusted as the child grows taller.
If you’d like to visit the Rara-chan Backpack Factory and make your own mini backpack, the premises are open to the public and tours, a 15 minute drive from the samurai city of Aizu-Wakamatsu.
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