randoseru

English

Etymology

From Japanese ランドセル, itself from German Landser or Dutch ransel.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɹandə(ʊ)ˌsɛɹuː/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɹɑndoʊˌsɛɹu/

Noun

randoseru

1. A type of backpack worn by Japanese elementary schoolchildren, made of leather or leatherette.
   • 1992, Yoshio Terasawa, Through my eyes: Wall Street, Washington, D.C., and Japan's Diet‎^[1], Japan Times:

     "The randoseru is an indispensable object in Japan which gives poetic charm to spring,” I explained to Leigh Hollywood, but I don't think he understood.

   • 2007 August 6, Ed -- The Tall Guy, “BB: Looking for a bag...”, in alt.callahans‎^[2]:

     It was an unconstructed ballistic nylon (I think) messenger bag, with a back pocket that unzipped to a set of padded shoulder straps that turned it into something roughly the same shape as a randoseru.

   • 2020 September 29, Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café‎^[3], Pan Macmillan UK, →ISBN:

     'Hello, Miki darling! Where did you get that wonderful randoseru?' Kyoko asked.