Launching on April 23: 'Pitta-cell', an Inclusive Design Randoseru Backpack that Snugly Accommodates Every Individual Child
Footmark Corporation is launching 'Pitta-cell', an inclusive design fabric backpack (randoseru), on April 23, 2026. Co-created over three years based on feedback from families of children with dexterity challenges, it features a first-of-its-kind zipperless magnetic closure, prioritizing the joy of self-reliance for all children.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 01:15 (13h 43m after Collected)
Inclusive Design Randoseru Backpack "Pitta-cell"
Celebrating its 80th anniversary, Footmark Corporation (Headquarters: Sumida-ku, Tokyo; President: Tokushi Isobe) will launch "Pitta-cell," an inclusive design randoseru backpack, on April 23, 2026.
Pitta-cell is a randoseru backpack developed for children who face varying difficulties, such as clumsiness with their hands or a tendency to forget things. It was created over a period of about three years with the hope that children can accumulate experiences of saying "I did it" rather than "I can't" with the backpack they use every day. It is the first fabric randoseru to adopt a zipperless magnetic closure (*1), and is designed entirely from the "child's perspective" regarding ease of opening, ease of putting things in and taking them out, and ease of carrying.
It is available in five colors: black, navy, mint, lavender, and pink. The dimensions are 35 cm high x 25 cm wide x 19 cm thick (11L capacity), and the price is 29,700 yen (suggested retail price including tax). It will be sold at Footmark's direct online shop and other outlets.
"Pitta-cell" Official Website
Development Background
The catalyst for development was the earnest feedback received in user surveys for our "RAKUSACK" series of fabric backpacks, which we have been selling since 2020: "I can't use the zipper well," and "I just can't open the magnetic buckle." These voices accounted for only about 2 to 3% of the total. However, we could not overlook this number as merely "a few." It made us realize the existence of children who had unconsciously been excluded from the traditional choices of randoseru.
With the desire to "make something comfortable for all children to use," we started development in the spring of 2023, centering on the concept of inclusive design (a design process that links co-creation with diverse stakeholders into value). We formed a co-creation system with GK Dynamics Inc., responsible for product design, and Inclusive Design Studio CULUMU (STYZ Inc.), responsible for research. We began by interviewing 25 families with children having developmental characteristics.
The standard for the design was to increase the joy of children being able to do things on their own without needing someone's "help." While our standard development period is about one year, we repeated prototypes more than five times for "Pitta-cell," taking about three years to perfect its form.
In our "Survey on Awareness of Fabric Randoseru (*2)" released on April 23, 2026, it became clear that dissatisfactions with current randoseru, such as "heavy," "cannot fit a water bottle," and "locks are hard to use," are widely shared not only by specific children but generally. Furthermore, the awareness rate of fabric randoseru exceeded the majority (55.7%) for the first time, indicating a change in how people choose them. We believe that "Pitta-cell," created valuing the perspective of those directly affected, will become a new option that meets the needs of these many children.
■ Click here for the development story: "Why we made 'Pitta-cell'"
■ Click here for a three-way discussion by the developers
Feature Description
■ Zipperless Magnetic Structure (First for a fabric randoseru *1)
Opens and closes with a magnet without using a zipper. You can put things in and take them out simply by lifting the flap. By repeatedly optimizing the strength, we achieved both "easy to open" and "closes securely." Even children with weak fingertips or who are not good at fine movements can open and close it with a single action.
■ Wide Open Design
The main pocket, which opens wide, allows you to see the contents at a glance. It is easy to put things in and take them out, making organizing smooth. It comes with a side pocket that can store a water bottle, preventing the risk of falling from carrying it diagonally and preventing forgotten items.
■ 3D Shoulder Belts & Back Pad that fit growing bodies
Designed with a 3D pattern anticipating all body types, postures, and movements, tailored to the bodies of elementary school students who grow 30 to 40 cm over six years. It evenly distributes the burden on the shoulders, back, and lower back, structured for continued comfortable use. It also comes with a 3-year free repair warranty.
■ Custom Flap (Sold separately)
A custom flap sold separately that can be arranged to your liking. Even if preferences change as they go up in grade, it can be replaced with a favorite color or pattern. Because you can change the pattern to match your mood or the season, you can enjoy it as a randoseru that is "uniquely yours" for a long time.
Comment from the Development Manager
It all started with the voices of our customers. While looking through the surveys that arrive every day, I learned that there are children who find existing randoseru difficult to use. Thinking that if there are children feeling inconvenienced even with so many types of randoseru on sale, we began development and interacted with many parents and children. Every parent had various ingenuities for their children.
Celebrating its 80th anniversary, Footmark Corporation (Headquarters: Sumida-ku, Tokyo; President: Tokushi Isobe) will launch "Pitta-cell," an inclusive design randoseru backpack, on April 23, 2026.
Pitta-cell is a randoseru backpack developed for children who face varying difficulties, such as clumsiness with their hands or a tendency to forget things. It was created over a period of about three years with the hope that children can accumulate experiences of saying "I did it" rather than "I can't" with the backpack they use every day. It is the first fabric randoseru to adopt a zipperless magnetic closure (*1), and is designed entirely from the "child's perspective" regarding ease of opening, ease of putting things in and taking them out, and ease of carrying.
It is available in five colors: black, navy, mint, lavender, and pink. The dimensions are 35 cm high x 25 cm wide x 19 cm thick (11L capacity), and the price is 29,700 yen (suggested retail price including tax). It will be sold at Footmark's direct online shop and other outlets.
"Pitta-cell" Official Website
Development Background
The catalyst for development was the earnest feedback received in user surveys for our "RAKUSACK" series of fabric backpacks, which we have been selling since 2020: "I can't use the zipper well," and "I just can't open the magnetic buckle." These voices accounted for only about 2 to 3% of the total. However, we could not overlook this number as merely "a few." It made us realize the existence of children who had unconsciously been excluded from the traditional choices of randoseru.
With the desire to "make something comfortable for all children to use," we started development in the spring of 2023, centering on the concept of inclusive design (a design process that links co-creation with diverse stakeholders into value). We formed a co-creation system with GK Dynamics Inc., responsible for product design, and Inclusive Design Studio CULUMU (STYZ Inc.), responsible for research. We began by interviewing 25 families with children having developmental characteristics.
The standard for the design was to increase the joy of children being able to do things on their own without needing someone's "help." While our standard development period is about one year, we repeated prototypes more than five times for "Pitta-cell," taking about three years to perfect its form.
In our "Survey on Awareness of Fabric Randoseru (*2)" released on April 23, 2026, it became clear that dissatisfactions with current randoseru, such as "heavy," "cannot fit a water bottle," and "locks are hard to use," are widely shared not only by specific children but generally. Furthermore, the awareness rate of fabric randoseru exceeded the majority (55.7%) for the first time, indicating a change in how people choose them. We believe that "Pitta-cell," created valuing the perspective of those directly affected, will become a new option that meets the needs of these many children.
■ Click here for the development story: "Why we made 'Pitta-cell'"
■ Click here for a three-way discussion by the developers
Feature Description
■ Zipperless Magnetic Structure (First for a fabric randoseru *1)
Opens and closes with a magnet without using a zipper. You can put things in and take them out simply by lifting the flap. By repeatedly optimizing the strength, we achieved both "easy to open" and "closes securely." Even children with weak fingertips or who are not good at fine movements can open and close it with a single action.
■ Wide Open Design
The main pocket, which opens wide, allows you to see the contents at a glance. It is easy to put things in and take them out, making organizing smooth. It comes with a side pocket that can store a water bottle, preventing the risk of falling from carrying it diagonally and preventing forgotten items.
■ 3D Shoulder Belts & Back Pad that fit growing bodies
Designed with a 3D pattern anticipating all body types, postures, and movements, tailored to the bodies of elementary school students who grow 30 to 40 cm over six years. It evenly distributes the burden on the shoulders, back, and lower back, structured for continued comfortable use. It also comes with a 3-year free repair warranty.
■ Custom Flap (Sold separately)
A custom flap sold separately that can be arranged to your liking. Even if preferences change as they go up in grade, it can be replaced with a favorite color or pattern. Because you can change the pattern to match your mood or the season, you can enjoy it as a randoseru that is "uniquely yours" for a long time.
Comment from the Development Manager
It all started with the voices of our customers. While looking through the surveys that arrive every day, I learned that there are children who find existing randoseru difficult to use. Thinking that if there are children feeling inconvenienced even with so many types of randoseru on sale, we began development and interacted with many parents and children. Every parent had various ingenuities for their children.