School Backpack Day (Randoseru no Hi)

What Is School Backpack Day?

Every March 21st is "School Backpack Day" (Randoseru no Hi) in Japan. It was established by makers of miniature randoseru, including Toshimasa Masuda, a leather craftsman at "Skip," a shop that remakes randoseru into miniature versions. The date was chosen because it falls in graduation season, and because 3 + 2 + 1 equals 6, the number of years of elementary school. It is a day to say "thank you for six years" to the randoseru that holds so many memories.

The Origins of the Randoseru

The randoseru traces its roots to a military backpack introduced from the West at the end of the Edo period.

• The Dutch "ransel": When the shogunate adopted a Western-style military system in the late Edo period, it also introduced the "hainou," a backpack for soldiers. Its Dutch name, "ransel," is said to have been corrupted into "randoseru."
• A school bag that began at Gakushuin: Its use as a school bag is said to have started at Gakushuin's elementary school. In 1885, based on the idea of "equality in education," Gakushuin banned pupils from arriving by carriage or rickshaw and introduced backpacks so children could carry their own school supplies.
• The prototype of today's shape: In 1887, when the future Emperor Taisho entered Gakushuin's elementary school, Hirobumi Ito presented him with a box-shaped bag modeled on the army officer's backpack. This is said to have led to the shape of today's randoseru.

Improvements in Materials and Comfort

The randoseru has been improved again and again on the assumption that it will be used for six years.

• Synthetic leather: In the 1960s, synthetic leathers such as "Clarino" appeared, spreading randoseru that were lighter and more water-resistant than genuine leather.
• Easier to carry: Features such as shoulder straps that rise up from their base and cushioned back panels help the bag fit the body so the weight feels lighter.

Fun Facts About the Randoseru

• More colors: Black for boys and red for girls used to be the norm, but today children can choose from many colors, including pink, brown, navy, green and light blue.
• Popular overseas: Sturdy and functional, the randoseru sometimes draws attention abroad as a fashion item for adults.
• Mini randoseru: There are services that remake a used randoseru into a palm-sized "mini randoseru" to keep as a memento.
• Randoseru across the sea: There is an ongoing international cooperation project that collects used randoseru and sends them to children in Afghanistan.

Tips for Enjoying School Backpack Day

• Take out a stored randoseru and look back on six years of memories through its scratches and name tag
• Tell a child graduating from elementary school this spring, "Well done on your six years"
• Look into remake services such as mini randoseru, or ways to donate a used one
• Chat with coworkers or family about the color of your own randoseru and your memories of it

"Thank You" to a Six-Year Companion

The randoseru is a uniquely Japanese school bag that accompanies children every day for six years of elementary school. March 21st, in the middle of graduation season, is a day to fondly remember the days spent with your randoseru.