They say "If winter comes, can spring be far behind?"—cold winds soften on many days. Before risshun, one almost hears spring's footsteps from afar.
Bag makers nationwide are in the final sprint of randoseru production. Children awaiting school entry are excited; parents may reflect, "They've grown so much."
The long-established Tsuchiya Bag Manufacturing ships randoseru in cardboard boxes reminiscent of celebratory noshi paper. The message reads: "Our craftsmen made your sturdy, beautiful randoseru with care, alongside large sewing machines and many tools. 'It somehow feels smaller...'—please cherish it through your last day of sixth grade." One feels the gentle gaze of stubborn-looking veteran craftsmen.
Randoseru is said to trace to the late Edo period. As in NHK's "Yae no Sakura," bakufu and domains rushed to build Western-style armies; soldiers' rucksacks were called "ransel" or "ranusel." Western learning then meant Dutch studies—Dutch in origin, softened to "randoseru."
Naoto Date of "Chibikko House" orphanage, known as Tiger Mask, donated randoseru to children's homes nationwide and made headlines—the "Tiger Mask movement." Of course Naoto Date is not alone; your neighbor A, masked, is Tiger Mask; unmasked, Naoto Date.
With the song "When I'm in first grade, can I make a hundred friends?" randoseru await entrance ceremonies.
At Nippon Budokan in Kitanomaru Park near Palaceside Building, March brings graduation ceremonies and April entrance ceremonies—a rush. Spring cannot come soon enough.