Yokohama Hoiku Education College and Unicharm Corporation Co., Ltd. Host Special Lecture: 'Learning the Connection Between Childcare and Society Through Disposable Diapers'

Yokohama Hoiku Education College, operated by Iwasaki Gakuen Educational Corporation, held a special lecture for second-year students, inviting Mr. Noriyuki Nasu from Unicharm Corporation as the lecturer, with the theme of 'disposable diapers'.

During the lecture, Unicharm Corporation shared its mission to 'realize a symbiotic society where babies, the elderly, pets, and everyone can live together comfortably as themselves.' The company introduced its wide range of products, including baby diapers, feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence products, and pet care sheets. Emphasis was placed on how Unicharm addresses social challenges and contributes to a sustainable society through innovation and user-centric product development.

One highlighted initiative was the horizontal recycling project for used diapers, 'RefF (Recycle for the Future).' Students learned about the technology that collects, cleans, and safely reuses used diapers as raw materials for new diapers, gaining insight into corporate efforts toward a circular economy.

The lecture also introduced products not typically found in retail stores. The '5S size' diaper, designed for extremely low-birth-weight infants in NICUs (Neonatal Intensive Care Units), was developed for babies weighing less than 1 kg. The company emphasized its social responsibility as a leading manufacturer in creating life-supporting products.

Mr. Noriyuki Nasu, Unicharm Corporation

Students also studied the structure of disposable diapers, which are primarily made of three materials: plastic, wood pulp, and SAP (superabsorbent polymer). In a hands-on experiment, adding water to the white polymer instantly transformed it into a gel-like substance. When students asked, 'How much water can one gram of this particle absorb?', they were surprised to learn it can absorb up to 100 times its weight in pure water. This also explained why diapers must not be put in washing machines or flushed down toilets—absorbing large amounts of water causes swelling, leading to clogs and equipment damage.

Students conducting a superabsorbent polymer experiment

The concept of 'inner discomfort' and 'outer inconvenience' in diaper development was also introduced. While technological advances have greatly improved core issues like 'less skin irritation' and 'leak resistance' (inner discomfort), challenges remain in childcare settings—such as managing individual diapers, and the burden of parents bringing diapers to and from daycare (outer inconvenience). Unicharm is actively addressing these operational challenges.

One such solution is the 'Tebari Tounen®' (Hands-Free Commute) service. This subscription-based system eliminates the need for parents to bring diapers and wipes daily. Diapers for the service are color-coded by size for instant identification. Many students showed strong interest, recognizing how this reduces both childcare workers’ workload and parental caregiving stress.

The lecture also covered changes in childcare environments. While parents previously took home used diapers, advocacy efforts with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare have enabled in-facility disposal in many daycare centers today. The discussion also touched on the reality that many qualified childcare workers leave the field due to lifestyle changes and workload. Improving operational efficiency, including diaper management, could help address the nationwide shortage of childcare professionals.

Students deepened their understanding not only of how everyday diapers work, but also of the broader social, environmental, and caregiving challenges behind them. The lecture served as a valuable opportunity to learn about a corporation’s role in supporting children, parents, caregivers, and the environment through a single product.

Iwasaki Gakuen Educational Corporation

Founded in 1927. Focused on specialized education in IT, fashion, design, sports, childcare, rehabilitation, medical administration, and nursing. Also operates a graduate university for information security talent development, regional revitalization projects including NPO support and museums, and social contribution programs such as reemployment support and childcare assistance.

● Educational Initiatives - Graduate and vocational school education (Information Security Graduate University, Yokohama f College, Information Science Vocational School, Yokohama Sports & Medical Wellness Vocational School, Yokohama Digital Arts Vocational School, Yokohama Rehabilitation Vocational School, Yokohama Hoiku Education College, Yokohama Practical Nursing Vocational School)

- Early childhood education (Iwasaki Gakuen Higashidoshima Hoikuen, Iwasaki Gakuen Shin-Yokohama Hoikuen, Iwasaki Gakuen Shin-Yokohama Nishi Hoikuen, Iwasaki Gakuen Shinonomachi After-School Club [Daichi]･[Sora], Iwasaki Gakuen Shin-Yokohama After-School Club, Iwasaki Gakuen Affiliated Kindergarten, Iwasaki Gakuen Affiliated Isozaki Kindergarten)

- Cultural initiatives Iwasaki Museum (Goethe Memorial), NPO Information Security Forum

- Lifelong education Lifelong Learning Center, Reemployment Support Training

- Number of students and children: 5,117 (as of May 1, 2026) - Number of staff: 749 (as of May 1, 2026) - Headquarters: Sotetsu Iwasaki Gakuen Building, 2-17 Tsuruyacho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture - Website: https://www.iwasaki.ac.jp/index.html