Preserving Tradition, Embracing Change: A New Take on the School Backpack "Randoseru"
For many of us, the Randoseru—that boxy backpack we carried through elementary school—was more than just a bag. When we were little, it felt huge. As we grew, it started to feel a bit small. But through all those six years, it was our trusted companion.
Through every era, the Randoseru has stayed by children’s sides.
But in recent years, something has started to shift.
Children are beginning to rethink what is "normal" about school bags in response to comments such as, "I can't put my water bottle in it," and "It's too heavy and hard to move around in.
One company that quickly took action was Takaaki Co., Ltd., a Japanese bag maker known for its craft. The Ryussel®—a bag that looks like a Randoseru but feels like a backpack. And joining them on this journey is Ito-Yokado, a name familiar to families across Japan.
In this fourth article for "A Journey to Weave Your Tomorrow", we explore the hopes and challenges behind this reimagined Randoseru.
Do Randoseru Really Have to Stay Heavy?
"News often highlights the weight of Randoseru as a social issue. But in reality, we don’t often get to hear directly from kids. I kept wondering, ‘How do they really feel about it?’"
So says Takeda, who oversees Randoseru at Ito-Yokado’s School & Hobby Department.
Takeda, Merchandiser, School & Hobby Department, Ito-Yokado
Takeda
Last year, I had the chance to give a special class at an elementary school. When I asked the kids, I was surprised at how many said their bags were way too heavy. These days, they’re also carrying water bottles and tablets. It made me realize how different things are from when we were kids.
The classic Randoseru—square, sturdy, made of leather—has long been the "standard." But maybe it’s time for that standard to evolve.
Takeda
The heart of manufacturing is listening to customers and responding to their needs. I began asking myself: What would the ideal Randoseru look like for kids today? That’s when I came across the Ryussel® at a trade show.
I thought, ‘What an adorable Randoseru!’ The shape, the texture, the colors—I was immediately in love.
School bags of various colors lined up in a showroom in Toyooka.
"I was honestly surprised when I heard from Ito-Yokado," recalls Shukunami, CEO of Takaaki, with a warm smile.
Founded in 2010, Takaaki has been making bags in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture—a city famous for its bag-making tradition. The Randoseru business started during the pandemic, born out of the same care for children that Takeda expressed.
Shukunami, Representative Director of Takaaki Corporation
Shukunami
During COVID-19, manufacturing in Japan came to a halt. We shifted to making masks and medical gowns, but our true expertise is bag-making. We asked ourselves: ‘What else can we do?’ And the idea of making Randoseru came up.
Even with Japan’s declining birthrate, as long as there are kids, Randoseru will be needed. It felt like a challenge worth taking.
Takeda
The Randoseru industry rarely sees new players. With production methods and shapes so fixed, seeing someone bring in a fresh perspective felt truly exciting.
Shukunami
We couldn’t just apply our usual bag-making know-how, so it was really tough at first. The bags were hard to make and still heavy. Looking at them with a bag maker’s eye, the storage felt lacking. So we thought: ‘Why not make it lighter, with more zippers and more storage?’ That’s how the Ryussel® was born.
The Ryussel®: Familiar Look, Smarter Function
From this idea, Takaaki launched a new brand: Rikomon—meaning "smart person" in the local Tajima dialect. Its flagship product is the Ryussel®, a Randoseru designed to feel like a backpack.
Playful in spirit yet uncompromising in quality, the Ryussel® balances both form and function.
Front and back of Ryussel®.
Ryussel® uses a lot of nylon yarn. The lightest model weighs less than 1,000g.
Shukunami
The flap is synthetic leather, but almost everything else is nylon. Our lightest model is under 1,000 grams. We kept the classic Randoseru shape on purpose—because in a child’s world, standing out too much can mean feeling left out. We wanted to make it easy to use without losing that familiar look.
Takeda
When we asked kids to draw their dream Randoseru, every picture had the same familiar shape. That shows how deeply that image is ingrained. At first, I was charmed by the cuteness, but as I learned more about its storage and usability—while keeping the Randoseru shape—I realized how impressive it really is.
Shukunami
It was really a matter of luck, timing, and connection. When we first started the Randoseru business, we managed to secure a contract with a skilled craftsman from a major Randoseru manufacturer. That’s what made it possible for a bag maker like us to create them at this level.
And since our company is deeply rooted in Toyooka, we’re in an environment where we can hear children’s voices directly. The final push for the Ryussel® came from kids who visited our factory and said, ‘I want this one!’
Each bag is carefully finished by hand. With strict quality control, the defect rate is kept to an absolute minimum.
Takeda
Luck, timing, connection—I can relate to that. That’s exactly how it felt when Ito-Yokado began carrying the Ryussel®. I remember first reaching out to Rikomon through their inquiry form. When I got a call back, I was on the train. I thought, ‘I have to answer this now!’ and jumped off at the next station to take the call. I’ll never forget that moment.
Shukunami
It was our first time working with a major retailer, so to be honest, I was nervous. But what won me over was Takeda’s passion. Even before any deal was finalized, she came all the way to Toyooka to see the factory for herself. You can’t do that unless you truly care about selling a great Randoseru.
Weaving the Future of the Randoseru
The Ryussel® project began with one shared goal: to make a better Randoseru. But where this journey will lead—that’s still being written.
Ito-Yokado’s full-scale rollout began in 2025. Standing before the Ryussel®, Takeda’s eyes light up.
Takeda
The Ryussel® has adjustable shoulder straps like a backpack, and the zippers are high-quality, making them easy to open even for children with less strength. It’s designed to reduce the burden on their bodies. In fact, some store staff have said, ‘This is a bag we can recommend to children with disabilities.’ Being able to deliver value that traditional Randoseru couldn’t—that brings me so much joy.
Shukunami
When we first started selling the Ryussel®, we actually custom-made a Randoseru for a child with disabilities, and that knowledge directly informed the Ryussel®’s design. Even now, when asked, we’ll customize to meet individual needs.
Chasing profit alone has no meaning. True craftsmanship means standing in the shoes of the people who will use what you make.
Takeda
I feel that our passion for craftsmanship is truly reaching our customers. At an event we held in March at Ito-Yokado Kiba in Tokyo, we met a customer who had traveled all the way from Aomori.
They told us, ‘Ever since we started our randoseru-hunting*, we knew the Ryussel® was the one we wanted. But since there was nowhere in Tohoku to see it in person, when we heard it would be on display at Ito-Yokado in Tokyo, we came right away.’ Having the Ryussel® in our lineup has allowed us to connect with new customers like this, and that makes me incredibly happy.
*Randoseru-hunting refers to the process in which parents select a Randoseru for their child before they start elementary school.
The brand also operates a mobile showroom called the “Rikomon Bus,” which travels to exhibitions across Japan. Inside, rows of Ryussel® bags line the space, ready for kids and parents to explore.
The interior of the vehicle is lined with Ryussel®.
Finally, we asked them to share their thoughts on the future of school bags.
Shukunami
The Randoseru is more than just a bag—it’s a keepsake that marks the milestone of starting school. That’s why it’s become such a familiar part of everyday life, instantly recognizable to everyone from the elderly to the youngest children. Its history spans nearly 140 years, and I want to preserve it with care until it truly becomes part of our culture.
Takeda
For the Randoseru to truly become part of our culture, I believe it needs more freedom.
Instead of just finding comfort in having the same thing as everyone else, I want to spread the idea that children can choose what they like and what works best for them. That’s why I hope to make the Ryussel® even more widely available.
Shukunami
What we want to deliver—whether it’s the Ryussel® or something else—are products that bring joy and move people. That’s what truly matters.
The Ryussel® was born from the combined vision of its creators, those who deliver it, and the children who use it.
This small step may be what slowly begins to shape the future of the Randoseru.
