93.7% Approval: Shibuya's Free Menstrual Pad Dispenser Pilot Tackles 'Period Poverty' Across 22 Facilities

Shibuya Future Design, in collaboration with Shibuya City and Unicharm Corporation, conducted a pilot program placing free menstrual pad dispensers in women's restrooms at 22 public facilities (49 locations) from October 15 to December 26, 2025. The initiative, part of the 'Our Wellness Action' project launched in 2022, distributed 14,874 pads over 73 days. A user survey (n=223) revealed 93.7% recommendation rate, 93.3% desire for continuation, and 99.1% felt reassured by individually wrapped, fully sealed packaging. The program addressed 'period poverty' as a multi-layered issue encompassing not only economic hardship but also information gaps and psychological well-being. Demand varied significantly by facility type, with Shibuya City Hall accounting for roughly half of all usage. Among respondents aged 20-40 (86.6% of users), 77.1% reported past difficulty obtaining menstrual products unexpectedly, while 10% cited economic inability to purchase them. The white paper published from these findings outlines both the public value of free provision as an urban safety net and challenges for institutionalization, including oversupply prevention and awareness initiatives.