About 30% of Children Had Specific Preferences for Their School Backpack; Over 98% of Parents of Children Who Chose Their Own Say 'It Was the Right Choice'

■The Impact of a Randoseru on a Child's 'Motivation to Enter School'

Many people have likely seen a child about to enter elementary school walking around the house carrying their new randoseru (Japanese school backpack). Some children might sleep with it by their pillow, strike poses in front of the mirror, or start practicing writing hiragana while wearing it. As a symbol of the milestone of entering school, the randoseru significantly influences a child's feelings. In recent years, the range of color variations and designs has expanded, allowing children to experience the 'joy of choosing.' So, what actual impact does the randoseru have on a child's 'motivation to enter school' and 'family memories'? To find out, we conducted a joint survey with Rara-chan Randoseru targeting 200 parents who indicated in a preliminary survey that they have children of elementary school age or older, asking about 'randoseru and children's motivation/memories.' *When citing the content of this press release, please comply with the following: 1) State that the source is a survey by NEXER Inc. and Rara-chan Randoseru. 2) Include a link to Rara-chan Randoseru (https://raraya.co.jp/).

Survey Overview: 'Survey on Randoseru and Children's Motivation/Memories'

Survey Method: Internet survey
Survey Period: April 22, 2026 – May 6, 2026
Survey Target: Men and women nationwide with children of elementary school age or older
Valid Responses: 200 samples
Survey Questions:
Q1: How did your child react when they received their randoseru?
Q2: To what extent do you feel the randoseru influenced your child's 'motivation to enter school'?
Q3: Please share any specific episodes if you have them.
Q4: Did your child have any specific preferences regarding the color or design of the randoseru?
Q5: As a parent, do you feel 'that choice was good' regarding the points your child was particular about?
Q6: Please tell us the reason.
Q7: Are you interested in 'special randoseru' such as custom-made or brand collaboration items?
Q8: Please tell us the reason.
*Note: Percentages are rounded to the second decimal place, so totals may not equal 100%.

■57.0% of Parents Reported Their Child Showed a 'Happy Reaction' When Receiving the Randoseru

First, we asked how the child reacted when they received the randoseru. 15.0% said 'was overjoyed,' and 42.0% said 'looked happy,' meaning a total of 57.0% of parents witnessed a happy reaction from their child. Meanwhile, 22.5% said 'it was normal,' 5.5% said 'showed little interest,' and 15.0% said 'don't remember.' While there seem to be individual differences in children's personalities and perceptions, it appears that the randoseru created a 'special moment' in over half of the households.

■56.0% Felt the Randoseru 'Influenced Their Child's Motivation to Enter School'

Next, we asked parents to what extent they felt the randoseru influenced their child's 'motivation to enter school.' 17.5% said 'greatly influenced,' and 38.5% said 'somewhat influenced,' meaning a total of 56.0% felt the randoseru had an impact on their child's motivation to start school. It seems that for over half of the families, the randoseru served as a boost for the start of school. Here are some specific episodes shared.

Please share any specific episodes if you have them.
・My child was looking forward to showing their favorite randoseru to friends and going to school. (Woman in her 30s)
・My child prepared for school every day by putting their pencil case in the randoseru. (Man in his 30s)
・Ever since the randoseru arrived, my child has been sleeping with it in their bed. (Woman in her 40s)
・My daughter was already excited just about 'becoming an elementary school student.' Actually receiving the randoseru seemed to make it real for her. (Woman in her 40s)
・My child happily ran around the house every day wearing the randoseru even before the entrance ceremony. (Man in his 40s)
・Because my child chose a randoseru in their favorite color, they looked forward to going to school for months, and I'm glad. (Woman in her 40s)

Sleeping with it, running around the house wearing it, preparing for school every day. It seems that from the moment the randoseru arrived, the days leading up to school became a 'special time' in themselves.

■34.5% Said Their Child Had 'Specific Preferences' for the Randoseru's Color or Design

Next, we asked whether the child had any specific preferences regarding the randoseru's color or design. 34.5% answered 'yes,' and 65.5% answered 'no.' This shows that in about one in three households, the child had clear preferences for the color or design. This result seems characteristic of the modern era, where the options for colors and designs have increased dramatically.

■98.5% of Parents Who Answered 'Yes' Said 'That Choice Was Good'

Furthermore, we asked those who answered 'yes' whether they, as parents, felt 'that choice was good' regarding the points their child was particular about. 62.3% said 'strongly agree,' and 36.2% said 'somewhat agree,' meaning a total of 98.5% felt 'that choice was good.' Only 1.4% said 'somewhat disagree,' and 0% said 'strongly disagree.' This indicates that almost all parents view their child's choice positively. We asked for the reasons why they felt 'that choice was good,' and here are some examples.

Reasons for feeling 'that choice was good'
・My child happened to choose a navy-based randoseru, which goes very well with their everyday clothes, and I thought it wouldn't look odd even when a 6th grader wears it. (Woman in her 30s)
・Because the child's own feelings are important. (Man in his 30s)
・Because they develop an attachment to something they chose themselves. (Man in his 40s)
・I set some restrictions, like 'no pink or glitter,' thinking about 6 years of use. Now that my child is in 3rd grade, they say 'I'm glad you did that.' (Woman in her 40s)
・Because they chose it themselves, they still take good care of it. (Woman in her 40s)

Many comments were like 'they develop an attachment because they chose it themselves' and 'they take good care of it.' Respecting the child's wishes in the selection process seems to foster attachment and a sense of responsibility towards the randoseru. On the other hand, there were cases where parents communicated certain conditions regarding color and design, considering the 6-year usage period. It appears parents are watching over the process, valuing their child's hopes while guiding them towards a choice that will be practical for a long time.

■15.0% Expressed Interest in 'Special Randoseru' Like Custom-Made or Brand Collaboration Items

Finally, we asked about interest in 'special randoseru' such as custom-made or brand collaboration items.