That they have to take everyday for school and some things that they just occasionally have to take for school.

[Life in Japan Theme Song]

So first off, here's their backpacks.

They're very expensive, they get them when they get into 1st Grade.

The grandparents buy them, so we milked that one!

And they last from 1st grade through 6th grade. So you buy one bag for all six years.

The prices of these bags range from $200 to about $1,000.

That's why grandmas buy them!

Anyway, OK

So first graders always have to use this yellow thing.

So it's very obvious to everyone driving, bicycling that this is a first grader

So pay extra close attention because they might not quite know what they're doing.

This is just a cover. You can buy these covers anywhere.

This one's bought from a dollar store. You can buy expensive ones too, I'm sure.

But I don't.

It just helps protect it a little more.

And this cover is the rain cover that you can put on for when it rains.

You don't need to. You don't need to, but you can.

Then, also, on the outside of their bag,

Is this little emergency thing-a-ma-bob.

Can I do it? So if you are being followed, or you're being chased,

Can I do it? Or whatever, you can pull this emergency button.

OK, Anna's going to pull hers.

No! Get ready!

Push it in.

It's very loud. Mine is louder than that!

Can I do mine? Yours is louder than that?!

Oh my! OK, let's try...

OK stop! My ears are going... cucu!

And then...here on the side is where you put one of these.

Let me find Sarah's Oh wait, mine!

You put this little bag right here. What's that called?

"Nafukiniru"

What's it called? Nafukin Bukoro (Napkin Bag)

Nufukin Bukoro

It's their placemat.

So every kid takes theirs, they put it on their table and put their lunch on top of it.

This is "napkin" and this thing that you put it in is the "napkin bukoro"

Which means "bag" right? Yes, Napkin bag and Napkin.

So all the kids have these things hanging on the side.

Also every week — of course everything matches — you have to take your sports clothes.

So they have shorts, and a regular shirt,

Do we have to wash it? I wash it every week!

And the red hat.

Red and white. It can be white too.

It can be white. It's reversible.

Wait, I'm going to do something... You can do red and white at the same time!

OK, well it's clean, so don't get it dirty!

And then also, they have their wabakis which is their indoor shoes.

So as soon as they get to school they take off their shoes — their normal, outdoor shoes

And all the kids wear these indoor shoes.

We just bought new ones, so they're at school already because school already started.

So these are all their old ones... We did "Cool not Cool" but with Wabakis...

What do you think Anna? Wabakis: cool or not cool?

Cool, because it's maybe only in Japan.

Oh, that's cool. Only in Japan.

Only in Japan, what about you, Sarah? Maybe, maybe.

Wabakis: cool, not cool?

I think it's kind of cool. OK

Cool. What about you, Becca?

Not cool. Ah! Not cool?!

Alright, we've got two votes for cool and one vote for not cool.

This is a... what's this bag called?

Um, that bag is called... It's huge.

What's it called Sarah? Ooki Bukuro (Big bag)

Nimotso Bag Nimotso Bag?

Tesage!

Anyway, whatever it's called, kids take this to school.

It stays at school and whenever they have to bring stuff home they bring it home in this.

This week Sarah is kyushoku toban, so she has to do lunch.

So then she has to take this special little hat

And wear it! Ah, kawaii (cute)!

And the school provides a white apron.

Then it's Monday through Friday, you're on for a week.

Then on Friday they bring it home. They bring home the white apron. Mommy has to wash it.

And iron it, and send it back on Monday.

And you gotta wear a pony tail, because if you don't, you can't put it in the [hat].

OK - then, inside their bags...

There's a couple compartments.

And right here, we usually put their — Sarah doesn't have hers —

It's this — this is their schedule.

Then they put all their books in there.

This is Sarah's "sansu" — math.

Kokugo — Japanese.

Oh! They all have a renrakucho bukoro — No! This is a renrakucho

Should I show you the renrakucho bukoro?

Which, they have to write down everyday what their homework's going to be

This is a renrakucho bukoro which you put your renrakucho in. And all their homework in.

And right now of course we have the temperature thing

where you have to take your temperature everyday in the morning and night and say if you have a cough or sore throat.

Which, thankfully, my kids are healthy as a horse.

(Neighs like a horse) I am.

Also, one thing they always have to take is their fudebako.

Which holds their pencils. It's so cute I wish I had these when I was a kid.

They always have to take a red pencil because they do a lot of correcting of their own.

The teacher says "Correct your thing."

And then regular black pencils — but normal pencils.

And this is the namae (name) pen, it's a permanent marker they all have to have.

And eraser.

And then they all have these things. It's their recorder.

No it's not. What is it?

Kenbamhaamonika

What is it?!

Ke-n-ba-m-ha-a-mo-ni-ka.

Kenbam harmonica

I can't say it!

(In Japanese) What are you going to do? Music

2 Years Ago We're going to do some music now, wow!

So they all have that.

Now in 5th grade they got these!

Yeah! Sewing kit! Oh, awesome!

Everything they need for sewing.

Of course you have to put your name on everything.

E-V-E-R-Y "Every THING!" Not the needles, thankfully.

Thankfully these girls know how to sew already because grandma taught them how to sew.

Yeah! Thank you Grandma, thank you!

Oh, so talking about names, see?

Her kindergarten, when she graduated, gave her pencils with her name engraved

Otherwise Mommy has to write their name on it.

And then they have this which is their paint set.

Oh, I didn't know that! You haven't gotten this yet.

Oh my goodness. It's got all their paints and paint brushes.

Can I see?

So this is the thing that you put your brushes in.

You can go like this and close it.

Tons of paints. The pinboard that you mix everything in.

What is this?

That's where you put water in.

Oh, this!

Kaataa (Cutter)

These are like wood-carving, super, super, super sharp knives.

One time the teacher cut her hand with that!

I cut myself with that like 3 or 4 times.

These are the different shapes of the knives right there.

So the teacher was doing this, and then her friend said "can you hold this please?"

And she held it like this and automatically GAJING!

Then... That's the doorbell

Intermission

And then also at school they have a set for calligraphy

Where they do these — they do calligraphy with long brushes.

Very beautiful.

And they also have... recorder.

Oh, they have a recorder, that everyone has a recorder.

Oh! And then they have this thing!

Tanken Baggu.

So this is a tanken baggu (exploration bag) and they carry when they go on excursions.

They can put their paper and pencils in here.

Then they sit down. If they're supposed to draw something, than they draw on this when they're out in nature

Or filling out things about excursions

Sarah's plant is her asagao (Morning Glory), right?

"Oh, everybody, let's go draw your asagao!"

You put it in there and draw it.

So that is just a little bit of what goes on inside the Randoseru.

Randoseru!

Let's make another silly song.

Only in Japan, Only in Japan, Randoseru!

Maybe only in Japan? Maybe only in Japan.

Maybe only in Japan, Randoseru. Maybe only in Japan, Randoseru.

Say "Yea!" OK I've got something now!

Yea!

"Life in Japan, only in Japan!"