HOME What’s In Your Bag, Ami? – Things a Japanese College Student Can’t Live Without!
What’s In Your Bag, Ami? – Things a Japanese College Student Can’t Live Without!

What’s In Your Bag, Ami? – Things a Japanese College Student Can’t Live Without!

Last updated: 18 April 2018

Let’s be honest: the contents of someone else’s bag can be utterly fascinating! While a wallet is a fairly standard thing to carry around, it’s all the other little knickknacks and necessities found in a bag that make us extra curious. Depending on someone’s job, style, and so on, the contents of their bag vary wildly, telling their very own, charming story about their owner!

This time, we asked a female college student from Tokyo if she’d show us what’s inside her bag. Her name is Ami and her dream is to become an announcer, while she does ballet as a hobby. Between her broadcasting classes and dance club, she also participated in a university-wide contest to find the prettiest students, both male and female—and Ami made it to the semifinals! If she doesn’t have class, she also hones her skills as part-time staff at a radio station. What’s in the bag of such a busy, charming student?

Everything inside Ami’s Bag!

Open your bag!
Open your bag!
Clockwise from top left: bag, 3 books, a schedule book, a makeup pouch, tissues, a hand towel, a pouch (bag in bag), her wallet, a pen cake, two iPhones, and a bottle.
Clockwise from top left: bag, 3 books, a schedule book, a makeup pouch, tissues, a hand towel, a pouch (bag in bag), her wallet, a pen cake, two iPhones, and a bottle.

Ami’s bag is from Michael Kors, a gift from her parents. She says that she has about 10 different bags that she uses according to outfit and season. If one gets damaged or Ami sees a bag with a really nice design, she adds a new one to her collection.

Her bag might be large, but the contents are surprisingly structured! She uses a gray bag in bag to store things she needs to take out often.

Her “Musts”: Never Leaving the House Without Them!

The “survival goods” inside the bag in bag.
The “survival goods” inside the bag in bag.
A drink she got from a convenience store. The bottle boasts a cute spring design.
A drink she got from a convenience store. The bottle boasts a cute spring design.

“My must-have items are my bag in bag, my wallet, and a drink. If I have those, I feel like I can survive for 2 to 3 days no matter what! They’re my ‘survival goods.’ (laughs)”

Inside the grey bag in bag is a commuter pass case, a key case, and a portable charger. By arranging these things inside a handy bag in bag, you can take them out quickly without rummaging through your entire bag, even if it’s a large one. It’s also convenient if you change your bag on a daily basis, as you can quickly put the ‘survival goods’ from one place to another.

Seasonal Contents: Which Items Change by Season?

Her favorite hand towel and soft tissues.
Her favorite hand towel and soft tissues.

Ami carries her hand towel and tissues with her at all times, no matter the season. However, she changes the hand towel frequently during the hot summer and between winter and early spring, she uses tissues that are particularly soft and gentle on the skin. They don’t irritate the nose, so Ami doesn’t have to worry about reapplying makeup either.

Something that she only takes with her during winter are face masks and a bento box. The mask is to shield her from the common cold, which is important for her career as an announcer—a sore throat is unacceptable. During winter, she also makes her own lunch and brings it in a lunch box. Her favorite side dish is Japanese-style fried egg! Only in winter, however, because the hot summer seems to ruin her appetite.

Using Every Minute of the Day: Things for Killing Time

Commuting means time to study! A vocabulary book is indispensable for every student.
Commuting means time to study! A vocabulary book is indispensable for every student.

It takes Ami about 1.5 hours to get to college, so she always packs items to make the most out of this time. She’s currently studying for the TOEIC exam, so English vocabulary and grammar books are essential.

Why Two iPhones?

The phone on the left is for music only!
The phone on the left is for music only!

Here’s a surprise in Ami’s bag: she’s got two iPhones! One is a music-only phone and currently, she’s a big fan of Gen Hoshino, a Japanese singer and actor. On the other phone, she checks Twitter and LINE while on the train.

Beauty Secrets: What’s Inside Ami’s Makeup Pouch?

A simple yet cute makeup pouch!
A simple yet cute makeup pouch!

Let’s look at what’s inside Ami’s makeup pouch: a mirror, a hair brush, lip balm, a concealer, cream blush, adhesive bandages, and medicine. When she fixes her makeup, she uses concealer instead of foundation and her cream blush can be used for both cheeks and lips. The adhesive bandages and medicine are “just in case” items.

Ami’s Wallet: How Much Cash to Bring?

Her wallet is from Folli Follie...
Her wallet is from Folli Follie...
...and there are 5,000 yen inside!
...and there are 5,000 yen inside!

Ami’s wallet is long, created to easily take out and put in bills. Every 2 to 3 years, she usually gets a new wallet. You’ll always find about 5,000 yen in cash inside—Ami says that she feels safe and confident with about 2,000 to 5,000 yen on her.

How Does Busy Ami Manage Her Schedule?

This is Ami’s schedule book.
This is Ami’s schedule book.
She manages her schedule by using different colors.
She manages her schedule by using different colors.
Five ballpoint pens in different colors are inside her pen case.
Five ballpoint pens in different colors are inside her pen case.

To manage her busy schedule, Ami doesn’t rely on her smartphone but instead uses a schedule book. Her college classes, part-time job shifts, job hunting activities, and private plans are all noted down, using ballpoint pens in five different colors.

We got a thorough and intriguing glimpse inside the bag of a female college student from Tokyo—the contents revealed much about herself and her lifestyle! Ami has plenty of everyday items in her bag that are important and functional and one of the most intriguing surprises was that her makeup pouch was surprisingly simple. Keep in mind that she almost won the beauty contest of her college! Makeup isn’t everything when it comes to beauty, is it?

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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