[Be-A Japan Co., Ltd.] [3/8 International Women’s Day Special Project] Junior high school boys at Kaiyo Gakuen experience simulated menstrual pain for the first time! “The reality of menstruation” that transcends gender
Be-A Japan Co., Ltd. Press release: March 7, 2025 [3/8 International Women’s Day Special Project] Junior high school boys at Kaiyo Gakuen experience simulated menstrual pain for the first time! “The reality of menstruation” that transcends gender
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/108/60583-108-67c34d6a2284b589c583131561a0974f-2476×1133.jpg The women’s support social project “GBA” operated by Be-A Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Kumi Takahashi, Director: Minako Yamamoto) held a
menstruation seminar on February 27, 2025 (Thursday) at Kaiyo Gakuen Kaiyo Secondary Education School in Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture. This seminar will be held for the second time following 2023. This year, with the cooperation of Linkage Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Yasuaki Ikoma), we have introduced a new menstrual pain simulation experience program, which is the first such program to be attempted at an all-boys junior high school. Background to the implementation of “Menstrual Seminar” at Kaiyo Gakuen Kaiyo Gakuen is a boarding school for boys throughout junior high and high school with the aim of nurturing the next generation of leaders. In addition to academic studies, we place emphasis on developing human resources who have a broad perspective by being exposed to diverse values and social issues. Sex education is one of these, and we provide students with learning opportunities so that they can understand and be considerate in a variety of situations in the future, including at work and at home. Be-A Japan, which aims to create a society where people do not give up on anything because of gender differences or menstruation, and Kaiyo Gakuen, which aims to develop human resources who can play an active role in an increasingly diverse society, coincided, and the first menstruation seminar was held in time for International Women’s Day in 2023. This seminar will be held for the second time since 2023. We also incorporated a menstrual pain simulation experience program, which was the first of its kind to be implemented at a junior high school. GBA, a women’s support social project run by Be-A Japan, has so far held menstrual seminars for more than 1,000 men and women as part of its activities to pass on a better society to the next generation. The program, especially aimed at boys, aims not only to gain knowledge but also to develop a sense of empathy and consideration. Although male students do not have many opportunities to learn about menstruation, we believe that it is important for them, who will be responsible for the future of society, to “know” beyond gender. At this seminar, in addition to lectures to learn basic knowledge about menstruation, we also held a workshop where participants could actually touch menstrual products, and a program where participants could experience simulated menstrual pain. We want people to become more familiar with menstruation by experiencing it, rather than just knowing about it, and hope that we can aim for a society where people can be considerate of each other regardless of gender. Furthermore, we held a discussion based on the students’ experiences on the day and created a place for them to proactively exchange opinions in order to “realize a better society.” I hope that by deepening the correct understanding of menstruation, we will be able to eliminate the gender gap at work and at home in the future, and create a society where everyone can live comfortably. Simulated experience of menstrual pain! The reality of menstruation learned by junior high school boys In this seminar, in cooperation with Linkage Co., Ltd., we introduced “Pirionoid”, a menstrual pain VR experience device that utilizes muscle electrical stimulation (EMS). Electrode pads are attached to the abdomen to simulate menstrual pain. We solicited applicants for the experience in advance, and with the consent of their guardians, eight first-year middle school boys and eight second-year middle school boys actually participated in the experience. *The experience was conducted with full consideration for safety and human rights under the support of Linkage. The experience was held in an environment where participants could end the experience at any time according to their will.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/108/60583-108-615bb8444488b96bc5dff96ad0f8b449-1920×1080.png The students who experienced it on the day were “I feel like my stomach is being grabbed” “It’s similar to the muscle pain you get when you do 100 sit-ups in a row and then do another sit-up.” “It feels like a drum is being hit in the pit of my stomach” “Pain like being stabbed in the abdomen with an iron rod” They used various expressions to convey the pain they felt during the simulated menstrual pain experience. Of course, there are individual
differences, and the abdominal pain experienced during the simulated menstrual pain experience is only a small part of the symptoms of menstruation. However, by implementing this simulated menstrual pain experience program, we believe that both the students who experienced it and the students who watched it were able to learn more about menstruation in a more realistic way.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/108/60583-108-7babab76793b2c50ef1acb6d8621703b-2476×1680.jpg “This makes studying for entrance exams difficult.” “I can’t study or concentrate with this pain.” I realized how difficult it is to live a daily life while dealing with menstrual-related problems, and I felt a strong desire to be close to women. From “learning about menstruation” to “thinking about menstruation” The seminar was held with the following program, with Be-A Japan representative Kumi Takahashi on stage. 1. Basic knowledge of menstruation 2. Workshop (Let’s try sanitary products) 3. Menstrual pain experience (guest: Linkage Co., Ltd.) *Experience only available to those who wish 4. Discussion on themes related to menstruation After learning the basic knowledge of menstruation and the history and background of why menstruation has been viewed as taboo, the participants were able to think about menstruation a little more realistically through workshops and experiencing menstrual pain, and at the end, a discussion was held on three themes. By exchanging opinions, it became a place for each person to think for themselves and gain hints for future actions in the workplace, home, and society.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/108/60583-108-5e7b20ecc5dbb75669be620d898cc6d7-2476×1500.jpg Theme 1.:What kind of consideration can the school where the student takes the exam take for a female student who has severe menstrual pain on the day of the exam? In response, discussions were held about what could actually be done, such as “increasing the number of women’s restrooms,” “separating examination classrooms for male and female students,” and “allowing exams to be held on separate days.” Takahashi said, “There are no right answers, and it’s very important to think about it. All opinions are great.” He also touched on the current situation in which it is already possible to take make-up exams during menstrual periods in common university tests, and talked about how society is actually changing. Be-A Japan also develops products with the aim of creating a society where people do not have to give up on anything because of menstruation. We introduced that one of these, the super absorbent sanitary shorts Be-A, has become an option for getting through the sanitary period, and we have received many feedback that it has reduced anxiety on the day of the exam. Theme 2:Do you think that men experience physical and emotional changes similar to women’s menstruation? If so, what kind of support or systems do you think would be good to have? In response, there were comments such as, “Although there is no name for it, in reality there are different types (for men as well).It is important to deepen mutual understanding and create an environment where men can consult each other.” “It would be good to create a menopausal leave for men who are going through menopause, and to take consideration for
adolescence.” Takahashi added, “Not only women, but also men, can feel pain and stress.The symptoms and severity of these symptoms vary from person to person.It is important for both parties to understand this first.” Theme 3:If you were the president of a company in the future, what do you think you should do to make it easier for women to work? In response to this, opinions were raised such as, “For example, we should create a menstruation department (like the human resources department) to create an environment where it is easy for women to seek advice,” “It would be even better if we could introduce remote work and make painkillers free of charge for menstrual pain,” and “It would be better to hold menstrual seminars to deepen understanding and make it easier to take menstrual leave.” Regardless of the theme, Takahashi concluded the seminar by asking everyone to remember what they learned today so that they can create a society in which everyone, regardless of gender, can live comfortably. It was a very meaningful time for Be-A Japan and GBA to be able to hold a menstruation seminar for Kaiyo Gakuen students who will be the next generation of leaders. We hope that this opportunity will generate new awareness and dialogue, and lead to the power to open up the future. Voices from seminar participants (excerpts) • I learned that menstruation can be accompanied by pain called menstrual pain • I learned that there are various symptoms other than menstrual pain, such as headaches. • I learned that there are sanitary products other than napkins • As I saw in my experience, I was left with the impression that people have different tolerances for pain • I thought physical education class would be difficult (if I had menstrual pain) • I was left with the impression that it is difficult to create an environment where women can easily talk about their menstrual circumstances in companies etc. • I think it will be important for the future and it was a good experience, so I would like to see this initiative continue 〈Seminar Overview〉 Date and time: Thursday, February 27, 2025 Held twice 1. 10:10-12:00 (60 first-year junior high school students) 2. 14:10-16:00 (60 second-year junior high school students) Venue: Kaiyo Gakuen Kaiyo Secondary Education School 443-0014 3-12-1 Kaiyo-cho, Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture Target: Kaiyo Gakuen Junior High School 1st and 2nd year male students Lecturer: Kumi Takahashi, CEO of Be-A Japan Co., Ltd. Cooperation: Linkage Co., Ltd. ■About Kaiyo Gakuen
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/108/60583-108-9b8b5c37d58f278a5b6b20fd55b0dbe8-1700×602.png Kaiyo Gakuen is a boarding junior high and high school for boys that was established with the support of over 80 companies, mainly Toyota Motor Corporation, JR Central, and Chubu Electric Power Company, in response to the crisis of “a shortage of human resources who can take on leadership roles in Japan.” A boarding school modeled after a prestigious British school is a place of education, a home, a playground, and a kind of society. In addition to thoroughly acquiring “basic academic skills” in the classroom, students overcome differences in values with their peers through house (dormitory) life, improve each other, and develop “the abilities to play an active role in society.” Kaiyo Gakuen aims to cultivate bright and hopeful human resources who will lead Japan in the future by training these abilities in a well-balanced manner and cultivating the “will” of each student. ◼︎Comment from Mr. Jun Yoshihashi, 1st grade teacher at Kaiyo Gakuen
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/108/60583-108-a5dcfcf814954cbc1857c8d1b5da4b46-1000×1000.jpg Up until now, I had felt that even when I used sex education materials in ethics classes, it didn’t go well, but after attending this menstruation seminar, I understood why. My own feeling, “Is it really necessary to teach junior high school students about sex in such detail?” led to the creation of a commonplace lesson that everyone knows. At the seminar, there was a very detailed lecture at the beginning, which made me realize that even in ethics classes, it is necessary to study the material deeply. I learned a lot from experiencing menstrual pain and using sanitary products, as there are many things that you won’t understand unless you try. Most
importantly, I was impressed by the seriousness of the students. The enthusiasm of the instructors was amazing, and I would recommend this seminar to any school. Thank you very much. ◼︎Comment from Kumi Takahashi, CEO of Be-A Japan Co., Ltd.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/108/60583-108-d4a11a3bf41b4499272d628cd92f11dd-2165×2700.jpg Continuing from the year before last, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for giving me the opportunity to think about menstruation with the first and second year junior high school students. I was deeply moved by the active participation of so many students in the menstrual pain simulation experience. Many of them frankly said, “It was more painful than I imagined,” and I was impressed by their efforts to understand firsthand the difficulties associated with menstruation. I would like to express my sincere respect to the teachers at Kaiyo Gakuen, who were the first in the country to agree to conduct a simulated menstrual pain experience for junior high school students. I would also like to express my deep gratitude to the teachers for their enthusiasm and efforts in helping students deepen their learning and develop rich humanity. Based on our strong desire to create a society where people don’t give up just because they have their period, Be-A Japan aims to change the mindset of society as a whole by creating serious products that help solve real problems and holding period seminars. We will continue to work with the young generation who will lead the future, aiming to create a society where everyone, regardless of gender, can live their own lives and where there is mutual respect. Thank you very much to everyone at Kaiyo Gakuen and the teachers. ■About GBA
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/108/60583-108-14ad19ab27b9669f26da27739cdeba4f-332×226.jpg GBA, whose message is Girls Be Ambitious, is a social project supporting women. We carry out activities both in Japan and overseas with the aim of empowering women and building a society where all people connected to women can live prosperously. We work not only to provide goods but also to provide the means so that everyone in society has equal rights and opportunities, and each woman can demonstrate her abilities. In addition, by collaborating with artists who share our ideas, we create art filled with unique individuality, expanding the value of companies and brands, and contributing to connecting companies, society, and people. Official website: https://girlsbeambitious.com ■About Be-A Japan
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60583/108/60583-108-9ffa3de75063de4e33664dfcc3eaa3a2-911×799.jpg Be-A Japan supports the mental and physical health and success of all people, including women, with the message, “Girls be ambitious. Change if you want to. Change your life and the world.” In sanitary life, which has often been inconvenient until now, we propose Be-A, a super absorbent sanitary shorts brand, as a new option with high
functionality that meets the needs of that period. We aim to empower the diversifying lives of women and contribute to a modern society that demands sustainable manufacturing and consumption. [Company Profile] Company name: Be-A Japan Co., Ltd. Head Office: 5-1-7 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Representative Director and CEO: Kumi Takahashi / Director: Minako Yamamoto Be-A official online website: https://withbe-a.com/ Be-A official Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/be_a.japan/ Be-A official Twitter: https://twitter.com/beajapan1/ ■About Linkage Co., Ltd. Company name: Linkage Co., Ltd. Address: GINZA ONE BUILDING 7th floor, 1-19-14 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 Representative: Yasuaki Ikoma, Representative Director, President and CEO Company website:
https://linkage-inc.co.jp/ Menstrual pain experience official website: https://sites.google.com/view/ohc-period/home?authuser=2
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