Awareness of period poverty grows as Japan seeks solutions

The problem of period poverty has received a great deal of public attention in Japan lately. Behind this movement is a voluntary group #Minna no Seiri (Menstruation for Everyone), which has been surveying opinions on the financial burden caused by periods. According to the group, 20.1% of respondents had difficulties buying sanitary items in the past year. 27.1% answered they used non-sanitary items such as toilet paper instead of menstrual pads to control their periods. This online questionnaire targeted high school and university students and collected 671 entries in early March this year.

Global fight to end period poverty

The fight to end period poverty has been a national issue in many countries. Scotland and New Zealand are among the first nations to make sanitary products available for free at schools and public facilities. Additionally, moves to reduce or eradicate taxes on period products are being put into action around the world, including in the U.K., Canada, India, Kenya and Colombia. In fact, #Minna no Seiri was formed to promote this cause in Japan with the hope of similar progress.

#みんなの生理 は引き続き行政への働きかけを行うと同時に、寄付事業を開始します。
現在はnoteでのみご支援をいただけますが、後日寄付専用口座を開設予定です。
リンク先の記事をご一読いただき、応援いただけますと嬉しいです。
よろしくお願い致します?https://t.co/fPjuHFVK1f

— #みんなの生理 (@minnanoseiri) March 8, 2021

Japan must reduce the one-sided economic burden of menstruation

Public support to end period poverty had been very slow in Japan. Yet, the heart-breaking results of the questionnaire significantly raised awareness and led to some changes. Akashi-city, Hyogo Prefecture is one of the first municipalities to provide free period products at schools and public facilities from this month. Toshima, Kita and Adachi wards in Tokyo have also given away sanitary pads recently. The government also decided to follow this menstrual movement by adding 1.35 billion yen to state subsidies. With this money, local municipalities can financially support NPOs promoting women’s health and well-being and can distribute menstrual pads through these organizations.

Femtech to help reduce menstrual difficulties

Periods generally involve the monthly discharge of blood and tissue. Still, the details of the menstrual cycle, such as length, amount of discharge and associated symptoms, vary according to each individual. The bottom line is that feminine hygiene products such as pads and tampons are indispensable to control the discharge each month.

However, the rise of the femtech industry has made more products available for women to have less stressful menstruation. Among them, period underwear can be an alternative to conventional disposable products. This absorbent underwear can hold up to a certain amount of blood for up to a day and repeatedly be used after being washed. The major setback for this innovative product has been its average price of over 4,000 yen, but UNIQLO’s sister chain GU has released reusable period underwear priced at 1,490 yen. With GU’s aggressive pricing, it’s expected that more manufacturers will follow suit to remain competitive.

The discussion of women’s health and periods has traditionally been a private matter for women. Many economically underprivileged women suffered without community support. Periods are a monthly occurrence, so it’s crucial to have continuous support and structural changes to make period products accessible to all women.