Figure 1.--Here a group of Japanesee boys are on their way to school during November 2010. Notice the boys all have identical book bags. This was normally the case at uniform schools. These primary boys wear tghe cdet uniforms. This was a style more common at the secondary level. Axreader writes, "My guess it is a private school and very traditional (probably prestigious). The school is keeping to tradition which includes uniform including a book bag, short pants (in November which is usually winter uniform), cadet caps, black ankle socks, and oxford black leather shoes."

Randoseru book satchels were commonly worn by Japanese primary school children. These were the classic black style copied from European school children. Randoseru is based on a Dutch word as the Dutch played such an important role in dealings with the Europeans. They became uniquitous in Japan in the 1950s when economic conditions improved and more and more parents could afford a proper leather randoseru. They seem to be a very similar design at least until the 1990s. Some seem larger than outhers, but perhaps the bags just look larger when they are worn by a smaller boy. The same bag can look huge on a little boy and tiny on a big boy. The classic black Randoseru book satchels were almost universally worn in the 1960s through the 1980s. Many images of primary-age children show them coming to school with these classic book bags. We notice cheaper vinyl rndoseru done in colors appearing during the 1970s. We see advertisement offering these book bags. One example of a book bag advertisement may date to 1977. New casual type Randoseru apeared at Department stores in the 1990s. Boys at uniform schools had the same style of book bag. At non-uniform schools a variety of book bags were permitted. This was especially the case as a greater variety of bags appeared in the stores beginning in the 1970s. The uniform schools tended to be more conservative. And we mostly notice them with black, traditionally styled randoseru. In recent years we note some boys with an additinal bag for books and papers. Apparently the boys could not crame all the school books necessary to take home in their Randoseru.

European Origins

Randoseru book satchels were commonly worn by Japanese primary school children. These were the classic black style copied from European school children. Randoseru is based on a Dutch word as the Dutch played such an important role in dealings with the Europeans. We do not have much information on Dutch and French school satchels, but we have a good deal of information on German school satchels because we have a much larger German archive. The German word for satchell is Ränzel and the ones used by school children are called Schulranzen.

Chronology

Randoseru became uniquitous in Japan in the 1950s when economic conditions improved and more and more parents could afford a proper leather randoseru. They seem to be a very similar design at least until the 1990s. Some seem larger than outhers, but perhaps the bags just look larger when they are worn by a smaller boy. The same bag can look huge on a little boy and tiny on a big boy. The classic black Randoseru book satchels were almost universally worn in the 1960s through the 1980s. Many images of primary-age children show them coming to school with these classic book bags. We notice cheaper vinyl rndoseru done in colors appearing during the 1970s.

Colored Vinyl Randoseru

We see advertisement offering these book bags. One example of a book bag advertisement may date to 1977.

Casual Styles

New casual type Randoseru apparently apeared at Department stores in the 1990s according to a reader. We are not yet sure what was meant by this. It amy be Aeruican style book back packs.

Types of Schools

Boys at uniform schools had the same style of book bag. Here we see aconservative privateschool with the stbndad cadet uniformsusing the classic black Randoseru, At non-uniform schools a variety of book bags, both different styes ad colors, were permitted. This was especially the case as a greater variety of bags appeared in the stores beginning in the 1970s. The uniform schools tended to be more conservative. And we mostly notice them with black, traditionally styled randoseru.

Additional Bags

We note some boys in recent years carrying an additional bag for books and papers. This is something we have not seen earlier. Apparently the boys could not crame all the school books necessary to take home in their Randoseru. We note portfolio style bags. We are unsure at this time to what extent diffterent types of additional bags were used. Apparetly some uniform schools chose the style and color that the boys could use, Non uniform schools may have left it up to the prents and children about the selection of additional bags. We are not yet sure how common this was. A reader writes, "American children never wore these Europen style satchel." We notice boys in the 19th century using a belt to hold their books together. Parents and children switched to back packs in the 20th century as more books were used. The classic Randoseru remains a standard in Japan and this is unlikely to change. The new bags are meant to supplement the Randoseru. The poor kid not only have to lug all those books home, but then complete an enorous amount of home work.

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Created: 12:47 AM 11/23/2011
Last updated: 9:30 PM 4/19/2013