[gnicholas]

We needed very durable backpacks when I was in high school because our books were so heavy, and my school had no lockers (so you were carrying 4-5 textbooks at all times). But as students have shifted to online learning platforms, wouldn't they have less of a need for extremely sturdy/roomy backpacks? I recently spoke to a college grad who said that all of his learning in HS was online, meaning he never needed to carry any textbooks. Do they not use online learning materials as much in Japan? Or is this a cultural phenomenon that will change slowly, even though the need has changed?

[eru]

We also had a bunch of text books in German school, but much cheaper backpacks were able to carry them.

(And, you could also just 'forget' your textbook, and nothing really happened.)

[gnicholas]

We were very grateful that in senior year there was an extra set of bio textbooks available in the classroom. Those suckers (Campbell) were monsters! For our other classes it was pretty much mandatory to bring your book, or risk the wrath of your teacher.

[eru]

Of course, you could also just coordinate with the kid sitting next to you, to share one textbook. Lightens the load by 50%.