On 25 June 2025, we held International Diaper Forum 2025 at Festival Station within Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
The forum brought together experts from Japan and overseas working in diapers, continence, recycling, accessibility and related fields. Three themes—“The Current State of Diapers,” “Diaper Recycling and Sustainability,” and “Diapers and Accessibility”—framed discussions on social issues surrounding diapers and their future possibilities.
Speakers in “The Current State of Diapers” were Yukihiro Nakano (仲野幸弘), Managing Director of the Japan Hygiene Products Industry Association; Kaoru Nishimura, Honorary Chairperson of the Japan Continence Action Society; and Kei Hirabayashi, Representative Director of the Japan Welfare and Medical Fashion Association.
“Diaper Recycling and Sustainability” was chaired by Seiko Noda, a member of Japan’s House of Representatives. Chika Abe (阿部千雅), representative of the Deasy Executive Committee; Shintaro Murai (村井辰太朗) of the Ministry of the Environment; Kazuyuki Oshita (大下和徹), Associate Professor at Kyoto University’s Graduate School of Engineering; and students from the National Institute of Technology, Tsuruoka College, presented initiatives from their respective perspectives.
“Diapers and Accessibility” was chaired by Atsushi Kato of Japan Toilet Labo. Speakers included Tetsuo Yasuoka (安岡哲夫) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Jack Sim, Founder and Director of the World Toilet Organization.
We also welcomed PAMIS Chief Executive Jenny Miller and Inclusive Communities Director Fiona Souter from Scotland. It was a valuable opportunity to hear directly in Japan about overseas practice, including Changing Places Toilets.
The forum provided an international exchange in which diapers were considered not simply as products, but from multiple perspectives including the environment, welfare, healthcare, accessibility and sustainability.
It was organized by the Japan Welfare and Medical Fashion Association, with support from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Embassy of Ukraine, the Embassy of Sweden, and numerous academic societies, professional bodies and welfare organizations.
Hiroshi Yagi contributed to the forum’s planning and operations as Deputy Representative Director of its organizer, the Japan Welfare and Medical Fashion Association. By connecting experts and organizations in Japan and overseas, we created an opportunity to consider social issues through diapers.
International Diaper Forum 2025 official website
https://jwmf.jp/idf2025/
