The randoseru—a uniquely Japanese backpack carried by elementary school students—is both highly practical and stylish. In recent years, it has gained attention not only within Japan but also abroad, with color and design variations expanding significantly. This article introduces the latest popular colors and explores how color preferences for randoseru have evolved over time.

 

“Back in the Day: Boys Wore Black, Girls Wore Red”

Traditionally, it was common for boys to carry black randoseru and girls to carry red ones. Manufacturers offered very few color options, so most children had little choice. Only rarely would you see children with dark green or pink backpacks.

With so few options available, families usually purchased a randoseru only a few months before the school year began, often in January or February for an April start, and brought it home directly from the store that same day.

 

Today: A Wide Range of Color Variations

Over time, the color palette of randoseru has expanded dramatically.

 While the classic black and red remain popular, many modern designs add accent colors to these traditional shades, creating far more choices than before.

Colors that were once avoided—such as lavender, pale blue, light gray, and beige—because they were thought to show dirt easily, have now become widely accepted and standard choices.

In recent years, soft pastels like lavender, pale blue, and mint have been especially popular among girls, a trend further fueled by children’s TV shows and character merchandise. 

For boys, black remains the most common choice, but combination styles—such as black with red or yellow trim on the flap—are increasingly popular.

 

Made-to-Order Becomes the Norm: Choosing Your Randoseru

With so many color and design options available, families now spend more time selecting the right randoseru. Many start their search more than a year before school begins, requesting catalogs or visiting multiple stores so their child can try on different styles.

To meet this demand, many manufacturers now produce randoseru on a made-to-order basis. Parents who grew up in the “black or red only” era are often surprised by the time and effort involved today, but they also enjoy the shared experience of selecting a unique backpack together with their child.

 

Made-in-Japan Randoseru: Popular Among International Visitors

At Ikedaya’s physical stores, more international visitors are purchasing randoseru as cultural souvenirs unique to Japan. Although most randoseru are made to order, we also keep a limited number in stock for overseas customers who wish to take one home the same day. Please feel free to ask our staff about availability when you visit.

We also offer classic leather backpacks for adults, modeled after randoseru designs from about 100 years ago. These timeless pieces are also well worth exploring.

Randoseru Colors Reflect Japanese Culture and Lifestyle

Randoseru are more than just school bags—they reflect changes in Japanese lifestyle and culture.

For international visitors, they represent a unique item that combines Japanese tradition with everyday practicality, making them both functional and symbolic souvenirs of Japan.