A style of backpack worn by elementary schoolchildren in Japan.
Its name is derived from the Dutch "ransel". It's a firm leather pack with a single large flap that curves over the top. The traditional colors are red for girls and black for boys. Additional colors have been available since the 1960's, but culturally only took off after the 2000's. Black is still the preferred color for boys, but the preferred color for girls has shifted to lavender purple, peach pink, and light blue over red.
These bags are expensive, averaging around ¥60,000, but are intended to last through the entirety of elementary school.
