The book bag that binds Japanese society

Elementary schoolers walk together wearing their randoseru, the distinctive backpacks that have been a staple of Japanese childhood for close to 150 years, in Tokyo. No one mandates that students use these rugged packs, which are pricey and meant to last for at least six years, but strong social norms lead most families to purchase them. — ©2024 The New York Times Company

IN Japan, cultural expectations are repeatedly drilled into children at school and at home, with peer pressure playing as powerful a role as any particular authority or law. On the surface, at least, that can help Japanese society run smoothly.

During the coronavirus pandemic, for example, the government never mandated masks or lockdowns, yet the majority of residents wore face coverings in public and refrained from going out to crowded venues.