History of diapering in Japan

A review of the history of diaper use in various countries reveals a number of difficulties that have been confronted. These difficulties seem to be associated with both climatic and traditional factors in each country. In Japan, for example, because of the hot and humid summers, there was a need to make diapers both leak- and 'stuffiness'-proof. At first the use of natural fiber diaper covers met this need, but the recent development of disposable diapers seems to even better solve these problems. Yet disposable diapers still make up only 25% of the diaper market in Japan. This is because the Japanese view of baby care and the country's economy have worked against acceptance of disposable diapers, despite their merits. The slower trend toward disposable diaper use in Japan is in contrast to their rapid acceptance in Western Europe and the United States. Western acceptance probably stems from the perception that disposable diapers are a convenient and practical alternative to cotton diapers. Japan is moving in the direction of greater acceptance, but will do so according to Japanese customs and thought.