Period care in Japan

In Japan, a period pad sits in a regulated category called “quasi-drugs”. A tampon, the industry says, sits in another. A labour law from 1947 speaks of periods, and its words are narrower than many people expect. This Column reports what the sources say. It does not rank any format or name any product.

A different category

In Japan, period pads are regulated as quasi-drugs: 医薬部外品, iyaku-bugaihin. Japan’s hygiene products industry association says the materials and product specifications of period pads are set under Japan’s pharmaceutical law, and that makers must place a responsible engineer at each factory. (our translation) Korea’s regulator agrees in its own comparison table, which lists period pads as quasi-drugs in both Korea and Japan.

Tampons are different. The same association says tampons in Japan “are classified as medical devices”, with quality controlled “from raw materials to finished product (including sterilisation)”. (our translation) We could not confirm this with a Japanese regulator, or find which class of device applies. So, as the industry tells it, Japan puts period pads and tampons in different categories. South Korea puts both in one.

The association describes three kinds of tampon: one with an applicator, one inserted with a finger cover (the “finger type”), and one with a small stick (the “stick type”). A regular tampon, it says, is “about 1 cm across and 4 to 5 cm long”. (our translation) Its tampon pages also describe toxic shock syndrome (TSS), list the symptoms, and say to stop use and see a specialist if they appear. (our translation)

Article 68, word for word

Japan’s Labor Standards Act dates from 1947. It is the country’s main law on minimum working conditions. Its Article 68 is headed “Measures for Women Who Find It Extremely Difficult to Work on Days of Their Menstrual Periods”. In the government’s official English translation, it reads:

Read closely, the article has limits. The worker has to request the leave. It applies when working is “extremely difficult”. It sets no number of days. And it does not mention pay.

The law does set a penalty. Under Article 120, in the same official translation, breaking Article 68 can bring a fine of up to 300,000 yen.

In everyday Japanese, the right is called 生理休暇, seiri kyūka, “menstrual leave”. (our translation)

A note on words: the law and the survey we cite say “woman” and “women workers”. We keep their words so we report them accurately. In our own words, we say “period pads”. The Reading Room is for everyone who menstruates.

Paid or not, used or not

Because the law does not mention pay, each workplace decides. Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) asks workplaces about this in its Basic Survey on Equal Employment.

These figures describe the survey’s sample of private workplaces with five or more regular employees. (our translation) The survey gives numbers, not reasons. We did not find a source that says why so few people request the leave, so this Column does not give a reason.

For what Canadian federal law does require at work, see “Period products at work: the federal rule in Canada”.

From cotton wool to period pads

This short history is the industry association’s own account. (our translation) The Editor did not read the surveys it cites.

The account also goes further back. It says a medical text from the year 984 names a menstrual band, and that from 1941, wartime rationing replaced cotton with paper cotton. (our translation)

The packs carry their own history too. Under the association’s guideline, its member companies’ packs carry cautions. They include “do not flush” and, since July 2001, a reminder to wrap a used period pad before throwing it away. Whether used period pads go out as burnable waste is up to each municipality. (our translation)

• One word on the pack.

  Japan’s hygiene products industry calls a period pad ナプキン, “napkin”. (our translation)

• A band from 984.

  The industry’s history says a medical text from the year 984 names a menstrual band. (our translation)

• 1961 to 1969.

  In the industry’s account, disposable period pads went on sale in Japan in 1961. By 1969, a survey it cites put period pads at 89%. (our translation)

What we could not confirm

Some things we set out to report, we could not confirm from a source we could read. How Japan classifies menstrual cups, discs, period underwear and reusable period pads. Which class of medical device a tampon is in Japan. The current name of Japan’s pharmaceutical law. How many people in Japan use each format today. Whether period products carry consumption tax. And figures on people in Japan who cannot afford period products. We leave these out rather than guess. If a Japanese source settles them, this Column can be updated.

What this is not

This Column reports what Japan’s labour law, its labour ministry and its hygiene products industry say, dated, in their own words. It did not test any product. It does not say that Japanese or Canadian products, or rules, are safer or better, and it does not rank any format. Where the industry association is the only source, we say so. A Japanese approval is not a Health Canada licence. Translations from Japanese are ours and are marked.

It is not medical, legal or employment advice.