While the hand-carried bags often seen in anime were once the main type of bag, most schools today use a 2-way or 3-way bag, that allows for multiple ways of carrying: by hand, diagonally over one shoulder, or on the the back. Also note that some schools use different colors for male and female students.
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Japanese schools can be quite strict about clothing and personal expression. In the average anime, students wear some version of a school uniform. Most Japanese schools do have a uniform for students. But, real school uniforms are far less fashion-forward than what you see in anime.
Remember there are no rules that apply to all schools. There can be differences even in the same city or within the same region. But, some broad trends can apply to most school settings in Japan. Here are a few things you might experience at a Japanese school that doesn’t quite match what you see in Anime.
One bag will often last a student their entire time at elementary school which can stretch their cost out to about 8,000 yen ($70) a year, but also means the kid better be really committed to their love of Mickey Mouse or Harry Potter.
Anime may leave you with the impression that Japan is full of high school students living on their own. Although not unheard of it is far less common than anime might have you believe. In most cases if a student is living away from home it’s so they can attend a particularly prestigious school.
Randoseru, or ランドセル in katakana, are popular backpacks in Japan, most often used by young school students. They are commonly made from either leather, or a similar alternative, which ensures a robust design. Perfect for adventurous children!
randoseruThese bags are known as randoseru. Carefully crafted, incredibly durable and often rather expensive, they've been a staple of everyday Japanese schoolwear for over a century. However, it does them a disservice to consider the randoseru just a Japanese school bag.
“Ita-bags” are bags that are heavily decorated with a fan's favorite anime, manga, or idol characters. Many put pin badges, others attach plushies- just decorate it to your liking and carry it around.
Having a good bag that balances the weight of all the things they need for school as well as doesn't negatively affect their posture is important. And above all, the randoseru has a symbolic and emotional value for young Japanese as it represents the start of a new phase in life.
Why do they cost so much? The best ones use top quality materials, are constructed out leather, and are built to last the entire 6 years of schooling. Most kids will keep the same randoseru throughout elementary school if they can. They don't typically cost as much as you saw.
Elementary school kids indeed use randoseru (from the Dutch "ransel," or backpack) as part of their school mandated supplies. Randoseru are rugged, hand-stitched leather or faux leather backpacks with firm sides, and hooks on one side for carrying a lunch, gym clothes or other accessories.
It might look weird, but that's why we call them Ita-bag or Itaba! It is written 痛バッグ in Japanese. 痛 means 'painful' or 'cringy' and バッグ means 'bag'…so in other words 'painful/cringy bag'!
1:425:26DIY ITA BAG... OLD BACKPACK TRANSFORMATION - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut what you want to do is cut a hole out of the front layer first and then you want to cut downMoreBut what you want to do is cut a hole out of the front layer first and then you want to cut down some pvc plastic like real thin kind of stuff that's used like raymax.
painful bagBy. Brian Ashcraft. 9/27/18 7:00AM. Comments (137) In Japanese, they're called “ita-bag” (痛バッグ) or, rather, “painful bag.”
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In most schools, students bring a box lunch from home, almost always consisting of foods prepared by the mother in the early morning hours, such s rice, fish, eggs, vegetables, and pickles. Japanese students spend 240 days a year at school, 60 days more then their American counterparts.
Japan is well known for its uniform culture. Japanese schools can be quite strict about clothing and personal expression. In the average anime, students wear some version of a school uniform. Most Japanese schools do have a uniform for students. But, real school uniforms are far less fashion-forward than what you see in anime. You won’t find any student sporting pastel skirts or garish colored plaid pants. Uniforms lean toward the conservative. Knee-length skirts and subdued colors like navy, black, or beige are most typical. The variety of uniforms is also not as wide as what you see portrayed in anime. There are a few basic uniform types. Blazers with pants or a skirt, sailor-style uniforms, and the gakuran – black uniform with a high collar are the norm.
Knee-length skirts and subdued colors like navy, black, or beige are most typical. The variety of uniforms is also not as wide as what you see portrayed in anime. There are a few basic uniform types. Blazers with pants or a skirt, sailor-style uniforms, and the gakuran – black uniform with a high collar are the norm.
Often anime characters will have some identifying accessory or style. A silly amount of jewelry or wild hair color is a common anime trope. While it gives the character personality it’s not that realistic. Such expressions of individuality in a Japanese school are rarely tolerated.
School clubs are a major commitment for the average student. Lack of sleep and falling behind are common complaints brought on by club schedules. Many schools have a variety of clubs, sports, academics, art, culture, and band clubs are common.
High school students living on their own. Anime may leave you with the impression that Japan is full of high school students living on their own. Although not unheard of it is far less common than anime might have you believe.
A teacher need not be a superhero to take that extra step. Home visits are standard practice for Japanese teachers. In fact, homeroom teachers are very involved in their students’ home lives. It’s not only house calls. Teachers often take responsibility for their student’s behavior in and out of school.
Even then students will usually travel home on a regular basis. Most Japanese parents keep close tabs on their children. Sometimes anime does get it right, well almost…. There are a few things you might encounter in a Japanese school that also appeared in anime.
0. In Ajin-chan wa Kataritai, there are a dullahan student named Machi. In chapter 23, it was said that the school wasn't allowing her to use a backpack, and she could only use a standard school bag or a tote bag. At first I thought it was only their school regulation, but then I recalled in Yuru Yuri, on the first day of school Akari used ...
It should also be noted that the "backpacks" you are mentioning in Yuru Yuri and Nichijou are not backpacks in the broad sense (which would be リュックサック (rucksack) in Japanese), but ランドセル "randoseru" or "ransel", which are backpacks specifically for elementary school students.
Some schools allow students to bring whatever bag they choose, while others will require students to buy from a specified maker, so that all bags have the school emblem.
While backpacks hold a lot, spread the weight between the shoulders, and allow for free use of both hands, they also have demerits, such as having to remove the backpack to access it, being unwieldy in tight spaces like trains, and making the back sweaty, especially in the summer.
April is the beginning of the school year in Japan, and it’s a time when many young students strap on their boxy leather (or often simulated leather) randoseru backpacks for the first time.
Early on they were given the Japanese name of “haino” but in keeping with the western wave of influence, the Dutch word “ransel” was also adopted into Japanese as “ranseru” or “ranuseru.”.
▼ By the time this photo of Prince Yoshihito was taken in 1892, he had already dropped out of Gakushuin due to health issues. Wikipedia.
Part of this meant opening up education beyond the nobility. ▼ Goofing off in class would no longer be a privilege but a right. Wikipedia/Issunshi Hanasato. One such school was Gakushuin, an educational organization set up in 1847 to teach the aristocratic children of Japan.
It all started around the end of the Edo era in the middle of the 19th century. After Japan was opened up to trade with other countries, western culture and fashions became a craze. ▼ Suit jackets and samurai swords weren’t exactly made for each other, but these guys made it work. Wikipedia/Illustrated London News.
The practice of taking your shoes off at the lower step of an entranceway when you enter a building is called genkan, and is believed to go back over a thousand years.
It's not made for hanging out. The schools that do lock off the roof usually do so for fear that some depressed kid is going to jump , which can and does happen occasionally. Some have even gone so far as to fence off the roof, in addition to locking it.
Some high schools do lock the doors to the roof, and even if you could go out there, it's not exactly a comfortable place. It's often covered in dead leaves, puddles and moss, and wind-blown litter if you're in the city. It's not made for hanging out.
The slippers are a real thing though. They're known as uwabaki and they're part of the school uniform, intended for indoor wear. The soles, which are usually rubber, are kept clean so as to not track dirt around the school or leave scuff marks on the floor. They're never worn outside.
The beginning of the Japanese backpack. Towards the end of the Edo period ( Edo Jiidai, 江戸時代) and into the Meiji era ( Meiji Jiidai, 明治時代), Japan began adopting western ideas. Its military being one of the first areas of transformation, soldiers began carrying Netherlands-style rucksacks.
In 1887, the crown prince at the time wore a backpack to this school; a backpack fashioned after a randoseru in order to honor Japan’s soldiers. This is where it all started. Though it immediately became the fashion for those in the upper class, randoseru never rose in popularity for the people because of the cost.
In 1885, Gakushuuin (学習院) proposed the use of these backpacks. Gakushuuin was (and in some ways still is) the school of schools. It was the school for the elite, the children of Japan’s nobility. In 1887, the crown prince at the time wore a backpack to this school; a backpack fashioned after a randoseru in order to honor Japan’s soldiers.
The stitching is made to last, and the materials are strong. One can still find the traditional black and red, but in a changing world, more and more kids are finding ways to express themselves.
Grade schoolers across Japan carry leather backpacks called “ randoseru ” (ランドセル). Traditionally, kids have carried one of two colors: black for boys, and red for girls. In recent years, however, that’s changed.
Most randoseru are made in Japan, and this is used as a selling point. Remember, these are bags that are built to last, and to be used by children from first grade to sixth grade. They need to be well-made, because kids carry the same bag for six years. [Photo: t06_h]
Randoseru, which comes from the Dutch word “ ransel ,” or “backpack,” vary in price. It’s possible to find them for around $80, but the all-leather backpacks which most parents buy are around $300 and get as expensive as $800 or $900, or even more, depending on the materials and whether or not they are made in Japan. Most randoseru are made in Japan, and this is used as a selling point. Remember, these are bags that are built to last, and to be used by children from first grade to sixth grade. They need to be well-made, because kids carry the same bag for six years.