トランクのがらくた (Junk in the Trunk)
I may not be directly involved in the public side of education in Japan, but thanks to MaryAnn I occasionally get glimpses into that world. Word on the street is that in addition to wearing sailor themed uniforms (and transforming into demon fighting super children), Japanese elementary school students have to rock a standard issue leather backpack known as a rendoseru. The word comes from the Dutch word ransel (backpack) and was probably introduced when the Dutch came to visit back in the 1600s. Girls carry red ones while boys tend to carry black ones; however, I've seen a bunch of different colored ones chillin' in Jusco so if someone wanted to stand out in a sea of rendoserus (hahaha this is Japan...not likely) then I suppose they could. The most notable thing about these backpacks are the cost: a typical rendoseru is around 40,000 yen (a little over $400). Granted, they last about the entire span of elementary school (six years), but I think I'd much rather rock a $45 Jansport and spend the rest of that dough on a Wii and some games.