Children carry 20% of their body weight every day. Let's make the 'burden' of commuting to school zero.
Murase Kabanko is launching an initiative to address the physical burden of heavy school bags on children, which can reach 20% of their body weight. Through research partnerships and advocacy, the company aims to rethink school commuting by reducing load weights and developing better carrying solutions.
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- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 09:00
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We support 'April Dream,' an initiative that encourages people to share their dreams on April 1st. This press release represents the dream of 'Murase Kabanko.'
Murase Kabanko Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture) announces its dream of 'making the burden of commuting to school zero' as part of the PR TIMES April Dream project.
In recent years, the physical burden on children commuting to school has been increasing. The weight of school bags for elementary students has risen significantly compared to 20 years ago, and in some cases, middle and high school students are carrying over 10kg.
However, the reality is that even parents, who watch over their children daily, do not fully grasp the extent of this burden.
Children carry bags equivalent to about 20% of their own body weight to school every day.
Have you ever carried that much weight yourself?
We want adults to experience that weight for themselves.
■ The 'weight of commuting' is a social issue that has been overlooked
Due to the increase in textbooks, the introduction of tablet devices, and the necessity of carrying water bottles, the weight of children's school bags continues to grow year by year.
As a result, physical impacts such as strain on the shoulders and lower back, as well as poor posture, have been pointed out. These conditions are sometimes referred to as 'Randoseru (school bag) syndrome' or 'backpack syndrome.'
However, this issue has not been sufficiently discussed, often dismissed with the mindset that 'it's just part of growing up' or 'it was the same in the past.'
■ Murase Kabanko's April Dream
Our dream is to 'make the burden of commuting to school zero.'
Beyond just making school bags lighter, we want to challenge the way we think about commuting itself by aiming for:
- A society that halves the total weight of school luggage.
- The creation of a burden-reduction system involving schools, manufacturers, and local governments.
- An environment where children can commute without feeling physical strain.
■ An experience for parents to carry the 'same burden'
To help people view this issue as their own, we plan to implement initiatives where parents experience the same burden as their children.
The load a child carries is equivalent to about 20% of their body weight. For an adult weighing 60kg, this is equivalent to about 12kg of luggage.
Through this initiative, we will create opportunities for parents to realize the reality of commuting by carrying this 'equivalent burden' themselves.
■ An approach through research and development
Murase Kabanko has been working on burden reduction for some time.
Moving forward, we intend to verify the impact of heavy loads on posture in collaboration with Chukyo University, and work with Nagoya Zokei University to develop new school bags that utilize burden-reduction features.
■ Moving toward the concept of 'reducing' and 'distributing'
Until now, the burden of commuting has been discussed primarily from the perspective of 'how to make it lighter.'
However, we believe it is necessary to reduce the burden from multiple perspectives, including:
- Reducing the school luggage itself.
- Choosing bags that can alleviate physical strain.
- Rethinking how items are packed and how the bag is worn.
As a manufacturer of school bags, we have continued to face this issue head-on.
What children should truly be focusing on is not the weight, but their learning itself.
■ A call to the future
The way children commute to school is a theme that involves schools, families, and the entire local community.
Murase Kabanko aims to promote initiatives to reduce the burden of commuting while collaborating with educational institutions, local governments, and companies.
To earnestly realize a future where 'the burden of commuting is zero.'
We believe we have a responsibility to change the 'norm' of commuting to school.
■ Company Overview
- Company Name: Murase Kabanko Co., Ltd.
- Headquarters Address: 4-10 Kogane-dori, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
- Representative Director: Yasuhito Murase
- Business Description: Manufacturing, wholesale, and retail of bags, including Randoseru (school bags)
- Official Website: https://www.murasekabanko.co.jp
Murase Kabanko Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture) announces its dream of 'making the burden of commuting to school zero' as part of the PR TIMES April Dream project.
In recent years, the physical burden on children commuting to school has been increasing. The weight of school bags for elementary students has risen significantly compared to 20 years ago, and in some cases, middle and high school students are carrying over 10kg.
However, the reality is that even parents, who watch over their children daily, do not fully grasp the extent of this burden.
Children carry bags equivalent to about 20% of their own body weight to school every day.
Have you ever carried that much weight yourself?
We want adults to experience that weight for themselves.
■ The 'weight of commuting' is a social issue that has been overlooked
Due to the increase in textbooks, the introduction of tablet devices, and the necessity of carrying water bottles, the weight of children's school bags continues to grow year by year.
As a result, physical impacts such as strain on the shoulders and lower back, as well as poor posture, have been pointed out. These conditions are sometimes referred to as 'Randoseru (school bag) syndrome' or 'backpack syndrome.'
However, this issue has not been sufficiently discussed, often dismissed with the mindset that 'it's just part of growing up' or 'it was the same in the past.'
■ Murase Kabanko's April Dream
Our dream is to 'make the burden of commuting to school zero.'
Beyond just making school bags lighter, we want to challenge the way we think about commuting itself by aiming for:
- A society that halves the total weight of school luggage.
- The creation of a burden-reduction system involving schools, manufacturers, and local governments.
- An environment where children can commute without feeling physical strain.
■ An experience for parents to carry the 'same burden'
To help people view this issue as their own, we plan to implement initiatives where parents experience the same burden as their children.
The load a child carries is equivalent to about 20% of their body weight. For an adult weighing 60kg, this is equivalent to about 12kg of luggage.
Through this initiative, we will create opportunities for parents to realize the reality of commuting by carrying this 'equivalent burden' themselves.
■ An approach through research and development
Murase Kabanko has been working on burden reduction for some time.
Moving forward, we intend to verify the impact of heavy loads on posture in collaboration with Chukyo University, and work with Nagoya Zokei University to develop new school bags that utilize burden-reduction features.
■ Moving toward the concept of 'reducing' and 'distributing'
Until now, the burden of commuting has been discussed primarily from the perspective of 'how to make it lighter.'
However, we believe it is necessary to reduce the burden from multiple perspectives, including:
- Reducing the school luggage itself.
- Choosing bags that can alleviate physical strain.
- Rethinking how items are packed and how the bag is worn.
As a manufacturer of school bags, we have continued to face this issue head-on.
What children should truly be focusing on is not the weight, but their learning itself.
■ A call to the future
The way children commute to school is a theme that involves schools, families, and the entire local community.
Murase Kabanko aims to promote initiatives to reduce the burden of commuting while collaborating with educational institutions, local governments, and companies.
To earnestly realize a future where 'the burden of commuting is zero.'
We believe we have a responsibility to change the 'norm' of commuting to school.
■ Company Overview
- Company Name: Murase Kabanko Co., Ltd.
- Headquarters Address: 4-10 Kogane-dori, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
- Representative Director: Yasuhito Murase
- Business Description: Manufacturing, wholesale, and retail of bags, including Randoseru (school bags)
- Official Website: https://www.murasekabanko.co.jp