Isetan, bag brand master-piece , and N High School, an online high school operated by the Kadokawa Dwango Gakuen educational corporation, have collaborated to create a futuristic school bag that will appeal to Generation Z (those born in the early 2000s or later) who attend N High School, which focuses on developing digital natives, including programming classes.

Are traditional shoulder bags functionally inadequate for high school students' school bags?

N High School (hereinafter referred to as N High) is a new online high school that utilizes the internet and the correspondence high school system to implement a new education adapted to today's internet society, with the motto "Diverse skills and diverse experiences to acquire the 'comprehensive ability' to thrive in the IT x global society." Students can obtain a high school diploma while studying at their own pace using PCs and smartphones, and can choose between online courses and on-campus courses. Currently, the number of students exceeds 15,000, and the number of on-campus campuses has expanded to 19 locations nationwide. This meeting was attended by first and second-year students in the on-campus courses.

N High School, where each student attends school in a different style, has a uniform, but since most students wear casual clothes, there was no designated school bag. This collaborative project started with the question, "In this age where PCs are essential, aren't traditional shoulder bags functionally inadequate?" Uematsu, a buyer at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , and Hiroyuki Kawashima of master-piece , proposed a plan for a student bag that fits modern learning styles.

What size, function, and design are suitable for both commuting to school and everyday use?

Uematsu: I heard from Ayano Sakuma, who is in charge of promotion and public relations at N High School, that "N High School students always carry their PCs with them, and the content of the classes has changed since my own high school days, so naturally the things they carry have also changed a lot." So I suggested that we collaborate with Masterpiece, a company that manufactures high-quality, functional Japanese-made bags, to create a school bag that fits the times.

Kawashima: master-piece is a Japanese bag brand established in 1994, based on the concept of "combining fashion and functionality." We have two factories in Japan where we manufacture bags and pass on our skills to young craftsmen.

Uematsu: First, I'd like to see what kind of bags you all use for commuting to school. Today, I've brought two design proposals based on backpacks, and I'd like to hear your honest opinions.


Kawashima: (Looking at the students' belongings) It seems everyone who participated today carries a backpack to school. Today, I've come up with two backpack designs, [PLAN-A] and [PLAN-B]. Both designs are basically simple daypacks, but with a distinctive front pocket.


The defining feature of 【PLAN-A】 is its playful design, subtly incorporating the letter "N" through the front round zipper pocket and slash zipper pocket.


A key feature of the [PLAN-B] is the placement of a resin buckle as a design element on the front pocket, creating a user-friendly pocket that opens and closes smoothly with a single touch.

Features common to both PLAN-A and PLAN-B: • Designed to be easy to carry for any student's commuting style • Functional design of each component • Durable materials chosen for daily use throughout the three years of school • Reflective material (reflector) for enhanced nighttime visibility • Interior features include a 13-inch laptop compartment and a name card holder • Size: W300 x H500 x D170 (mm)


Uematsu: The color is a simple black, but we also considered using navy as the base. However, black seems to match more well with casual clothes.


Sakuma: N High School has a lot of fashionable students, so I think black would be a good color.

Students, what are your first impressions of [PLAN-A] and [PLAN-B]?

[Female student's opinion]
- If I had to choose one, I prefer [PLAN-B] - [PLAN-A] looks too much like a school bag and seems difficult to use with casual clothes - I definitely prefer black - I want accessories like a keychain - The reflector could be black instead of silver

[Opinions of male students]
- If I were to buy one, I'd probably go with [PLAN-B] - Black goes with any outfit, but I think it would be nice to have a pop of color - Is it possible to change the material or color of the reflector? - Maybe a more unique design would be good too

Please tell me what you like about the bag you're currently using.

[Female student's opinion]
- It has a large capacity, so you can fit a lot of things in it. - It has side pockets for water bottles and umbrellas. - Lunch boxes and water bottles won't roll around inside. - The fabric is water-repellent, so it's fine in light rain. - When you lengthen the straps to the maximum, it looks cute when you carry it on your back.
[Opinions of male students]
- It has plenty of storage space and is easy to use. - I carry around equipment like my PC and camera, so the waterproof fabric is a big plus. - I use a 16-inch laptop, and it's big enough to fit that size. - Since I use it every day, I prefer a material that doesn't get dirty easily.

What are some things you always keep in your bag?

We asked the students to show us the actual contents of their bags.

[For female students]
- 13-inch PC, smartphone, wallet, cosmetics, lunch box, drinks, mobile battery, files, books - PC, lunch box, charger, sewing kit and other small items, pencil case - 13-inch PC, smartphone, lunch box, water bottle, makeup pouch, textbooks, part-time job uniform


[For male students]
- 16-inch laptop, lunch box, water bottle, towel, cell phone, charger - 13-inch laptop, camera, dance shoes and change of clothes - 13-inch laptop, charger, pencil case, textbooks, lunch box, water bottle

Please tell us the size and features you would like, using master-piece 's plan as a reference.

[Female student's opinion]
- The size is important; if it's too small, it's not cute. A larger size is cuter. - Girls tend to wear backpacks hanging from their shoulders, so a size that looks cute when hanging is ideal. - I want enough depth (width) so that a lunchbox doesn't tip over. - I sometimes wear clothes without pockets, so I want pockets on the sides. - I want an inner pocket with a zipper to put chargers and other items in. - It would be best if there was a pocket to put cosmetics in without needing a separate pouch.

[Opinions of male students]
- Choose based on design preference rather than size. - A vertical zipper on the side makes it easier to take things out from the bottom. - When it comes to size, "bigger is better."
- I'd like a mesh pocket that can be used as a pouch. - I place it directly on the floor, so I'd like it to stand upright. - The bag gets wet even when I'm using an umbrella on rainy days, so I'd like it to be waterproof. - I'd like the zipper pull to be larger.


Uematsu: I appreciate all the different opinions; they're very helpful. Thank you.

Kawashima: Everyone has quite a lot of luggage, and N High School students need to carry PCs, so it's heavy. The materials need to be strong and durable so they can be used for a long time.

Sakuma: To summarize everyone's opinions, it seems the consensus is "simple is best."


Uematsu: Next time, I'll create a sample based on everyone's feedback from today, so I hope you'll take a look at it.

The next meeting, "First sample completed!", will be announced here ↓ (Published on December 19th (Sat))
"Part 2: [N High School Bag Project] First sample completed, incorporating feedback from master-piece students!"


The bags developed through this project will be available for a limited time at the Mitsukoshi Isetan online store from December 23rd (Wednesday) until mid-March 2021. During this period, they will be available for purchase not only by N High School students but also by the general public.