Just like students in Japan have to wear a school uniform, they have to all use a standard backpack. Some schools even mandate the colors that students must use, typically red for girls and black for boys, but recently most schools have given students the freedom to choose any color that they want. They need to be careful with the color that they choose because this backpack will serve them from the first grade all the way to the eighth grade.
One backpack lasting a student eight years? Sounds impossible, but it is true. Each backpack is made by hand and with over 200 fittings, it can easily last a lifetime, well over eight years. This incredible workmanship comes at a hefty price, about $500.00 to be precise! Think of it as a Coach bag for children.
The bag came into popularity way back in 1887 when the Emperor of Japan gifted his son with a randoseru that was similar to the backpacks worn by the Japanese soldiers at the time, to carry his books to school. It quickly became the fashion for children all across the country to use the same backpacks to honor their servicemen and has remained in use to this very day.
Back when I was in school in America it was not cool to use a backpack at all. I can remember kids using backpack getting bullied! Nowadays, all kids use backpacks in the US, but we are talking about $10.00-$20.00 backpacks that most likely won't even last one entire year without falling apart. Parents in America would be horrified at the though of spending $500.00 on a backpack. I worked in a school supply store back in America and I can remember parents complaining about spending $20.00 on their child's backpack.
Just keep in mind, that my son will be starting first grade in about a year and a half. I'm thinking of setting up a kickstarter in order to fund the cost of his randoseru.
I'll keep you posted...
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