Online shop PepperMint has released a new shoulder bag that features an onigiri (rice ball) on one side and a panda face on the other. The concept behind the bag is "going out and having fun," and the design playfully combines two universally loved motifs into a single, reversible accessory.
The bag is priced at ¥3,980 (tax included, free shipping) and is available on Rakuten Ichiba and Yahoo! Shopping.
A New Kind of Coordinated Look for Parent and Child
The bag works for both children and adults, making it a natural fit for parent-child outings with a subtle matching look. One person can carry the panda side while the other shows off the onigiri — or swap them around however you like.
The shoulder strap is adjustable from approximately 66 cm to 129 cm, allowing it to be worn cross-body or over the shoulder by wearers of all sizes. The bag itself weighs only about 130 g, keeping it light even for young children.
A Slightly Surreal Story Hidden in the Design
There's a quietly quirky narrative built into the bag: the seaweed wrapping the onigiri has mysteriously come loose and its cutout pieces have landed on the rice ball's surface — forming eyes, ears, and a nose that turn it into a panda. It's the kind of detail that sparks a conversation once someone notices it.
Playful Details in the Charms and Pockets
The seaweed section of the onigiri side doubles as a pocket (interior dimensions approximately 11 cm × 9 cm). Tuck in the included shrimp tempura charm and it transforms into a temaki-style rice ball. The zipper pull is a bamboo-shaped charm made from soft rubber, designed to feel comfortable in hand.
The Story Behind the Design
The onigiri-panda bag was developed as the second entry in PepperMint's "animal tote" series. The first collection featured bags with an animal's face on the front and a tail on the back, centered around the idea of walking alongside a pet. For the second installment, the focus shifted to combining two things that people love, with parents and children as the target audience.
During development, the team explored a range of outings-related motifs. Candidates that made it to the final round included Mount Fuji and a shrimp-shaped sausage (tako-wiener), before onigiri and panda ultimately won out.
Considerable care went into balancing the panda's expression — the shape of the eyes, ears, and whether to include a mouth all affect whether the character reads as cute or cool. The goal was a design that works for both kids and adults. For the onigiri, the seaweed coverage was kept just dense enough to be immediately recognizable without making the overall look feel too heavy.
The finished bag — called the Onigiri Panda Shoulder Bag — is available at the following shops:
- Rakuten Ichiba: https://item.rakuten.co.jp/pepper-mint/95039/
- Yahoo! Shopping: https://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/peppermint/95039.html
