Hi ksk,
Welcome to the blog! And thanks for letting us know about you. I'm glad that you had a great time at the party:)

Hi David,
There are a lot of different types of school bags these days, but many of them are made of leather, so that's why they are very expensive. Artificial leather school bags are not that expensive. Most of them cost about 20 to 30 thousand yen, and some of them are less than 10,000 yen. Is it still expensive? But children are supposed to use their bag for 6 years, so they should be good and strong.

I have to cook dinner!

See you,

Tomo

•  Tomo
• 2011年12月12日 19:21

Hi David,

As Tomo said, most of them are made by leather and made by hand work. You know, there are more than 100 parts to make for one ランドセル. So it takes time to make one.

I am still taking medicines, so I feel sleepy. I can't keep my eyes open.
I am off to bed.

Good night and sweet dreams,
amo

•  amo
• 2011年12月12日 23:09

Hi again, David.

I think 30,000 is a reasonable price for a ランドセル, but if I had had a choice, I wouldn't have bought "randoseru"s for my children. I would have bought ordinary backpacks instead. They are much cheaper, lighter, and easy to take care of.

Good night,

Tomo

•  Tomo
• 2011年12月12日 23:11

Hi David and all,

I enjoy reading this blog every week :) Thanks for sharing the interesting topic!

Japanese parents sometimes (or almost always) do ridiculous things for their kids. They pay too much attention to their kids including their possessions. Many parents do go too far. In addition to their "love" for their kids, they have much pride. Especially in private elementary schools where wealthy families usually go, parents subconsciously or consciously have competitions such as who has the most expensive satchel, who has the rarest one, who has the coolest one and so forth. Their kids also have their own competitions among other kids at school comparing their possessions, showing off things like "My parents bought this for me in France", "I went shopping with my grandparents and they got me this expensive satchel" or whatever.

As I went to a Catholic private elementary school, I still remember that conversations among the parents and even my friends were all about this. It was exactly like a war! Kids' belongings sometimes have (had) an affect on parents' and even kids' way of thinking and point of view . It was absolutely a discrimination.

I'm not sure about public schools and about the schools in other countries. I would assume that the situation will be similar. Oh well, I would say Japanese parents can sometimes be brainless or stupid in some way because of their love for their children...

Cheers,
Moo

•  Moo
• 2011年12月12日 23:46

I can't believe it too, David.

Just couple of days ago, I talked to mom about this. My niece will enter elementary school next year. In Japan, as you know, grandparents often buy a satchel when their grandchild enter an elementary school. So she's thinking to do so too. But she said she won't affort to it for my daughter(my daugher just turned 1 year old, so it's still a long way off though), because my mom has already retired, and she has another grand-daughter her age. That's a big problem!!! I don't know if there are any school rules that all kids have to use a leather bag. If there aren't any rules, all kids have it. So I can't say to my daughter that she use a backpack instead.

Junior high students use one with less cost, like a small overnight bag, a backpack etc, which costs around 5000yen. They use it for three years. I think these bags are enough for elementary kids too.

My father used a cloth shoulder bag, while my mother used a leather satchel. I guess, therefore, a leather satchel appeared when they were school kids in 1950s. At that time, maybe cloth bags weren't durable enough for 6 years and they needed to buy new one again and again, so the cost for using cloth bags was almost same with the cost for leather satchels...?? I wonder why people started to choose a leather bag instead of a cloth bag.

I Love Nutella

•  I Love Nutella
• 2011年12月13日 01:06

Correction

made by leather> made of leather

amo

•  amo
• 2011年12月13日 15:19

Hi David and everyone,

It’s not surprising to hear how much a child’s satchel cost.
As Tomo said, there are a lot of types; different materials, different designs and variety of colors. Some of them,
as you mentioned, are very expensive.
As you know, a child is said to have six pockets in Japan, and a lot of grandparents buy the school satchel as a gift.
I don’t have a grandchild, but if I had one,I would not hesitate to buy “Randoseru” for him/her. Having said that, I think the price”47,000 yen” is too much. 　No wonder you think you want to buy a good quality one around 30,000 yen for a grandchild.

Some of you might remember the story in this January that an anonymous guy named Tiger Mask donated school satchels for children who could not afford to buy them. Why Randoseru? Why not money?
I guess "Randoseru" implies "You enter an elementary school and are of the age to study hard."
It has some special magic in this, and I assume that's why Tiger Mask donated　Randoseru.
It's just a school satchel, but it feels like you can't express this nuance without the word "Randoseru."
“たかがランドセル、されどランドセル” This seems to be the clue to answer your question,David.

Bye for now,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2011年12月13日 17:03

Hi David and everyone,

I haven’t posted a comment for a long time, but I try to read this blog as often as I can.

About the topic, I’m not Japanese and am not so rich, when my kid came to Japan starting from the fifth grade at the elementary school, I bought a randoseru made of artificial leather which only cost 9,000 yen something, After 2 years, when my kid left elementary school, it was still in good condition and looked quite new, throwing away would be a waste so we sold it on the internet.

What I want to say is that, in some cases, buying a very expensive one decorated with diamonds or buying a cheap second hand one is all your choice.

On the other hand, there are the cases that you don't have many choices. I can buy a cheap school bag for my own kid, but if some day I need to buy one for my grandchild, I don’t think I have the guts to buy a cheap one even if I’m not rich, I will at least buy an average priced type, it’s a matter of “face” which is considered important in my country, and I also care how my daughter-in-law will feel. I quite understand why most Japanese spend at least 30,000 yen on a school satchel.

•  Ling
• 2011年12月13日 19:30

Hi Sana, AKKO, I love Nuttela, KSK and Moo,

Nice to meet you. I'm also looking forward to talking with you.

Hi Tomo and Ling,

I'm glad to see your comments here again. \(^^)/

Hi David and everyone,

As for school satchels, let me share a story of my young cousin. She had two elder brothers, and she decided to use one of used satchels that her brothers used when she was 6 years old.

The second brother's satchel was damaged because he was a naughty boy but the oldest brother used his very carefully, so it didn't look old, she said. Also, it was black but didn't matter for her at all. At that time, girls usually choze a red one and boys did a black one. Her grandmother and parents tried to change her mind saying that if a girl carried a black satchel, it would look weird. Besides, they seemed to be influenced by what other people do or don't do, so they didn't want to be thought they could not afford a new satchel for their only girl.

However, she preferred the old black satchel and used it for another six years. She said that it looked like to be still bearable for another 6 years when she was 12 :) I liked the story very much and realized that Japanese satchels were good enough to be used for such a long period, 12 years or perhaps 18 years.

•  tsuneko
• 2011年12月13日 21:06

Hi David and everyone,

It's an another interesting topic.
I thoght that it depends on how to use Randoseru whether they durable for 6 years or more or not, after reading some members comments. So 50,000 yen Randoseru for a wild boy is a waste of money!
I think 30,000 or more yen for a Randoseru is a rip-off even if they are made of leather and handmade.
Manufactures might set high prices for Randoseru because people buy them even if they were too expensive. In Japan, people tend to spend so much money on school supplies and children's education.
Not only Randoseru but also children's desks (学習机、school uniforms and cram school fees are too expensive.

Hi Moo,

Nice to meet you!
I didn't know the situation of private schools because I never been to or send my children to them. Wow, parents are so competitive at there. I don't think parents competes with each other with their children's possessions at public schools.

Hi Ling,

I'm so glad to see your comment again. ^^

Fumie

•  Fumie
• 2011年12月14日 06:38

Hi David,
As member said, most of children are supposed to use their child's satchels for 6 years, so they should be strong and durable. And most of them are made of leather, so I don't think they are very expensive.

Hi everyone,
Long time no see!
The other day, I had a Christmas concert at a restaurant. (It was my last concert this year.) The restaurant was filled to capacity. I sang a lot of Christmas songs with a piano and a flute. I enjoyed singing!

•  Amica
• 2011年12月14日 14:25

Hi Amica,

That's great;) Wish I were there and listened to your songs.

Hi everyone,

I am taking a day off today for last Sunday duty. I went to get a massage and am on a train now. I am meeting up with my friend and have some shopping.

Oh it's my stop, I've got to go.
Bye for now,
amo

•  amo
• 2011年12月14日 15:48

Hi David,
I think 30,000 yen is a bit expensive but at the same time don’t think excessively expensive, because, as other members mentioned, children can use it for six years.
Of course I can understand you feel that’s unbelievable, but these satchels are made elaborately, so you cannot buy one for 4,700 yen.(^’^)
Purchasing a satchel is a kind of ritual for Japanese people like お宮参り（a newborn baby’s visit to a Shinto shrine）or 七五三（a festival day for children aged seven, five and three）.
This habit just shows Japanese national character; conformity. People tend to like to do the same things with others. Bag makers take advantage of this character, I think.

Hi Tomo and tsuneko,
Thank you for the comment, I’m really glad to hear from you, because you seem to have been very busy lately.
See you soon.
ksk

•  ksk
• 2011年12月14日 23:16

Hi David and everyone,

Reading other members' opinions and thoughts is interesting.
Last night, I talked about the days when we bought Randoseru for our children with my husband. It's an old story, back to about 25 years, so prices might be different, but we chose quite reasonable ones from Seikyo. I don't mean to say the quality was bad, but I remember the price was reasonable. I understand what Ling said, and totally agree with her. (Hi, Ling! Glad to see your comment here again! How have you been?)

A grandchild related story including money things sometimes come up in the conversation with my friends. One of my friends once said, "50,000 yen isn't that expensive and normal." She also said," Randoseru that my niece's child has cost 80,000yen. My elder sister chose very special one for her grandchild." It surprised me and was a shock when I heard this. I'm a middle aged or nearing old age woman, but I don't have such an expensive handbag! Yeah, my husband and I have been living within our means.

Hi Moo,
Nice to have you with us.
I've heard such kinds of stories from my friend. It feels like a different kind of pressure other than getting good marks at school.

Hi Amica,

Long time no see! I bet people there were fascinated with your songs. I wish I could listen to your beautiful songs again.

Bye for now,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2011年12月15日 09:06

Hi David and everyone,

I don't know a "Kitty" bag which you found in a shop means Randoseru but if so, no wonder a bag costs 47,000 yen.
The reason is written in the below. I think it's easier to understand than my poor explanation. hehe...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randoseru

Bye for now,

mintia

•  mintia
• 2011年12月15日 14:24

Hi　David and everyone!

Randoseru･･･　It is blast from the past!

I think it is expencive to child.

but it is conventional things to use Randoseru in Japan.
When I was 6 years old, my parents gave me Randoseru. I was extremely happy!

Randoseru is just symbol of elementarystudents.
That's why they buy it even if it's high in price.

By the way, it will been soon Christmas and New Year. Christmas presents and お年玉.
Parents and grandparents needs more money( ´･ω･)

Hi Amica!
Your voice would be nice surely!

Hi tsuneko!

umm... so it is warm memories(＊＾＾＊)

•  AKKO
• 2011年12月15日 17:16

Hi David

> Even though I have lived in Japan for a long time, I still find things that amaze me.

I't a wonderful thing that Japan has never ceased to amaze you, is it not?

Hi Moo,

> Especially in private elementary schools where wealthy families usually go, parents subconsciously or consciously have competitions such as who has the most expensive satchel, who has the rarest one, who has the coolest one and so forth.

Hope your mum was not one of those divvies.

Ash

•  匿名
• 2011年12月15日 17:37

Hi David, and everyone,
I like the "Randoseru" very much. Because when I was 6 years old I got "Randoseru" and new clothes in order to enter a elementary school. I felt very happy at that time and I had remembered them for a lomg time. And when my child turned 6. I did the same thing like my parents did. It is common in Japan. I think so. For the cost, of course most of them are expensive but there is some low price. so we can choose what we want to buy one. And as someone says randoseru can keep 6 years or more. So It is not expensive. These are my opinions.

Hi Mintia Moo and Ling. Nice to have you with us.

katherine

•  Katherine
• 2011年12月16日 00:23

Hi mintia,

Thanks for the link. That was very interesting, but I can't understand why everyone keeps going on about the fact that these backpacks last for six years. I still have backpacks that I bought twenty years ago, and all of them are in perfectly good condition. Some of them have been used on mountains and in the rain (and snow), and many of them have been thrown in airplane cargo holds. I can assure you that they have been treated far more roughly than any child's satchel.

As far as I can see, leather is a completely inappropriate material for a school bag. It is heavy (why would you give a small child a bag that weighs 1.2 kg?!), it is not flexible, and it is not waterproof. Also, the fact that these bags are made of leather does not justify the cost. It is possible to buy a set of bike racing leathers for 80,000 yen, and those use much more leather than a child's satchel!

Basically, the whole "ransdoseru" business just seems like a way for companies to rip off parents who are scared of having their child stand out. Paying this kind of money for a child's school bag is crazy, and it would be completely unthinkable in any other country.

By the way, I talked to some British and Australian friends about this today, and apparently, I am the only foreigner in Japan who did not know about "randoseru"! I guess I still have a lot to learn about Japan.

•  davidbarker
• 2011年12月16日 00:36

Hi David,

> I still have backpacks that I bought twenty years ago, and all of them are in perfectly good condition.

Students in Japan take their textbooks home each afternoon in their Randoserus. Your backpacks seem to be made to last from grade school to grad school, however, they are not suitable to carry the Japanese textbooks, which are paperbacks.

Ash

•  匿名
• 2011年12月16日 21:05

Hi David,

My post didn't show up. What's wrong with the link to the pic of a lovely donkey and a snowman?

Ash

•  ashmoleanmuse
• 2011年12月17日 20:57