Bags of Charm

Almost all Japanese students start their school life with a randsel, one of these sturdy, leather school bags. Traditionally grandparents will buy kids a brand new shiny randsel in time for their first day of school. Named after the dutch word for backpack they were created in the style of the bags carried by European soldiers in the 1880's. They really took off in the 1960's at which time they became part of every school's requirement. These almost indestructible bags, built to resist swinging and slinging, are designed to last the whole of their primary school.

Originally they came in black for boys and red for girls, today they come in a range of colours. Many people have such fond memories of their randsel they find them hard to part with and there is a local company which refurbishes them and turns them into mini versions!

Handbags are like a deep psychological need. It's a desire to kind of organize and contain that which is important to you in your daily life.
Hilary Clinton