In Japan, there is a type of school bags series known as “randoseru”, that parents in Japan are willing to spend between the range of 30 000 Yen to 100 000 Yen (estimatedly equivalent to between S$400 to S$1200) for their children to carry them to school. But lets try to understand. There must be good reasons why people are willing to pay that much right?

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What does Randoseru mean?

As mentioned earlier, “randoseru” is a type of bag. Not to be confused, “randoseru” is NOT a brand, but a Japanese term used for a type of bag. In other words, you can have a “randoseru” that is made from brands like Nike, Puma, and so on. The word “randoseru” comes from the word “ransel” that originates from the Dutch. Even though it is meant for schoolkids, it has been trending for adults to use them as well especially in Japan. Randoseru comes in a range of different colours.

Unlike many other schoolbag series which have cartoon characters or all sorts of patterned designs, randoseru” usually comes in plain, no patterns. But its minimalistic and plain design is what makes it all the more appealing and attractive, especially in this modern age where minimalism and simplicity is the trend these days. And it does help that randoseru bags are made of leather. As such, randoseru bags are fit for you to carry, regardless of whether it’s a formal occasion or if it is a casual one.

In Japan, the randoseru has a special significance, for it marks the start of a new passage, or the beginning in elementary school, which indicates the start of school life which is an equivalent to the start of life. These randoseru bags are usually presented by the child’s grandparents to mark the beginning of their life in school, akin to a gift when you first entered school in Primary 1 in Singapore.

In Japan, schoolkids are not usually driven to school in their parents’ cars. Instead, from a young age of 6 or 7, Japanese parents start letting go and schoolkids begin training on getting to school and back on their own. The schoolkids have to start learning to get used to the Japan train lines and figure around public transport. If you were in their parent’s shoes, don’t you want to look for something light and easy for your child to be able to carry around the city on their own? That is one plus point for a randoseru bag.

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History of Randoseru

Back in history, there was a time where Japan was closed to the world, and there was a time when Japan eventually opened up to the world. And that was when Western influence was welcome in Japan, and from there came the influence of the ransel from the Netherlands that was originally used by soldiers. Hence, through that, the Japanese came up with their own version and called it randoseru. This traces back to the late 1800s. The design was made from inspiration from bags used in the military.

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5 Reasons why Randoseru bags are expensive:

• 1. It is Designed to be Long Lasting
  Randoseru bags are worth a high price. To justify that, randoseru bags are very durable and designed to last. In Japan, parents purchase the bags with the trust that it will last all throughout their child’s elementary school phase of life and more. That is at least 6 years. Imagine that.

• 2. It is Fashionable
  There is a price to pay for good fashion, don’t you agree? The randoseru plays a good match for you for both casual and formal occasions. The randoseru is made with leather. For something that is good to suit formal, don’t you think you will pay more for something good?

• 3. It is Compact Inside
  In school, the Japanese students have to carry their textbooks, notebooks and lunchboxes. Minimalistic design should also come with a minimalist function. And being compact does it for the randoseru. You can put in your important items, and the bag has a wide opening that makes it easy for you to have an instant glance at what you need to pull out from your bag for use.

• 4. It is Designed to Help You have Good Posture and Build Strength
  The randoseru is designed with a soft cushioning for the back. This is one of the key features that help with the ease of carrying it when there is a need to carry a heavier load. Also, even with a heavier load, the weight will still feel balanced on both your shoulders.

• 5. It is Made Sturdy
  Remember again, the invention of the randoseru began from the time in the late 1800s, and adding on, the designs were inspired from military bags. Designed to have a hard front and exterior, the randoseru is designed well on the outside. They are tough and highly damage resistant to protect what is inside your bag.