Character Luggage Tags Bought in China: How to Read the Back Label (Material, Age, Standard) and PU vs Soft PVC

Character goods sold at theme parks and pop-up shops in China usually carry a Chinese product label on the back. Because it is written in Chinese characters, Japanese readers can often half-read it, but terms such as 材质 or 执行标准 differ from Japanese usage. Using the shop's own listing photos of two luggage tags sold by Loop KOBE on Mercari Shops, this guide explains each field on the back label and what to check before use.

The two luggage tags in this guide

The first is a Mickey Mouse luggage tag in red from Shanghai Disney Resort. The product page gives the size as about 80 x 105 mm (as printed on the package) and the material as soft PVC. The second is a PU luggage tag from the street series of Bungo Stray Dogs (Chinese title 文豪野犬), sold only in Shanghai, featuring Chuya Nakahara, Paul Verlaine and Osamu Dazai. It measures about 70 x 118 mm excluding the strap, is made of PU and metal, and comes with a strap with metal fittings.

The values in the table were read from the photos of each item's back label. The Mickey tag also states that the backing card is 120 g woodfree paper (120g双胶纸), and the Bungo Stray Dogs tag also lists a production date (1 August 2026) and a batch number.

Key fields on the back label

中文名称 and 品名 are the product name, and 型号 or 产品型号 is the model number. 尺寸 means size and 材质 means material. 适用年龄 or 适合年龄 is the age rating: 3 and over on the Mickey tag and 15 and over on the Bungo Stray Dogs tag, which repeats the 15-and-over notice in a 警告 (warning) box.

产地 is the place of production, 生产日期 the production date and 生产批次 the batch. 合格证 or 等级：合格品 indicates the item passed the maker's inspection, and 检验员 is the inspector's number. Other fields such as 出品商, 授权商, 地址 and 电话 give the names and contact details of the companies involved.

These labels are for the Chinese market and are not labels required under Japanese law. Koetsu does not authenticate items or verify official licences, and the presence of company names or a 授权商 field on the label is not in itself proof that an item is genuine.

What "执行标准 QB/T 1619-2018" means

执行标准 is the field where the maker states which standard it follows when producing the item. QB stands for China's light-industry sector standards, and according to a standards database, QB/T 1619-2018 is titled 票夹 (Wallet). It was issued in May 2018, took effect that September, and covers the classification, requirements, test methods and marking of wallets made from leather, synthetic leather, textiles and similar materials.

Both tags are presumably listed under this standard because they are built much like a card wallet. All the label tells you, though, is that the maker says it follows this standard; it does not show what testing was actually carried out.

PU vs soft PVC

PU is polyurethane, often used in luggage tags and wallets as a leather-look synthetic. The Bungo Stray Dogs tag is a PU case that holds a card. Soft PVC is flexible polyvinyl chloride, commonly used for rubbery tags moulded into a character's shape, like the Mickey tag.

The Bungo Stray Dogs label says to store the tag in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight and to wipe it with a clean, dry cloth. Whichever material you have, keeping it away from heat, humidity and direct sun when not in use helps prevent fading and warping.

Checklist before buying or using

• Check the material (PU or soft PVC) and size on the product page and back label
• Check the age rating (3 and over, 15 and over, etc.)
• Labels may be in Chinese only, with no Japanese instructions
• When travelling, fill in personal details so they are not visible from outside
• Company names on the label alone do not prove an item is genuine

Both luggage tags are sold through Loop KOBE on Mercari Shops. Stock, price and shipping can change, so please check the product pages for the latest details, and send the shop a question before buying if anything is unclear.

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