Choose the format first when buying Japanese Laurier night products: a pad attached to underwear, or a whole disposable pair to pull on. The 48cm on Anshin Shorts describes the absorbent core, not your waist or a guaranteed interval between changes.
I’m Irene, a Taiwanese pharmacist licensed in Japan. This guide uses Japanese official product information to explain labels and shopping choices. It is not a hands-on wear test.
Japanese official sources checked: 23 October 2026. Scope: unscented Asamade Block 400, 10 pads; Anshin Shorts M-L and Yuttari L, 5 pieces each. Other lengths, scented versions and washable period underwear are outside this comparison.
What you replace is the main practical difference
Asamade Block 400 is a night pad that attaches to your underwear. You replace the pad and keep wearing the same underwear. Anshin Shorts combine the pad and pull-on body, so you replace the whole item. That difference matters when thinking about your clothes and the space available in a toilet.
Start with 生理用ナプキン, meaning menstrual pad. 羽つき means with wings, while ショーツ型 means pull-on style. Anshin Shorts are disposable products, rather than fabric sanitary briefs that hold a separate pad or absorbent underwear to wash and wear again.
Read length, body size and pack count separately
| Product | Length and body-size label | Pack count |
|---|---|---|
| Asamade Block 400 Unscented | 40cm pad with wings; attaches to your underwear. | 10 pads |
| Anshin Shorts M-L | 48cm absorbent core; M-L is the body-size label. | 5 pieces |
| Anshin Shorts Yuttari L | 48cm absorbent core; ゆったりL is a different body-size label. | 5 pieces |
The front of Asamade Block 400 specifies 40cm and 無香料, or unscented. “400” is not a 400mL absorption rating. Both shorts sizes have a 48cm core, but that does not make their fit identical. Choosing a larger body size is not the same as choosing a higher stated absorption rating.
For the shorts, check the body measurements actually printed on the packet, such as a ヒップ (hip) range, and a ウエスト (waist) range if listed. Your usual clothing size is not a conversion chart. Ask the manufacturer or shop if the fit information is unclear, rather than transferring a size range from a different pack count.
Think about where the next change will happen
| Situation | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Sightseeing in your own underwear | The adhesive format lets you change just the pad. Check whether 40cm gives the coverage you need and carry spares. |
| Trying shorts at a hotel or at home | Check your measurements against the packet first, then consider the space needed to change the whole item. |
| Wearing trousers or a jumpsuit | Tearing the sides helps remove the shorts, but a fresh pair still has to be pulled on. Easy removal does not remove the effect of your clothing. |
| A long journey with limited toilet access | Do not read “朝まで” as a fixed wear-time guarantee. Keep replacements accessible and plan opportunities to change. |
These are practical considerations based on the formats, not an absorption or comfort ranking. If you cannot confirm a suitable size, there is no need to choose a pack merely to try the pull-on format.
How to use and dispose of each format
For an adhesive pad
Clean your hands and unfold the product as directed on its wrapper. Kao’s attachment guide advises flattening the crotch of the underwear and pressing along both sides of the pad from front to back. Follow the packet’s directions for the wings. Check placement and folds even when the pad is long enough.
For disposable shorts
Follow the packet’s putting-on diagram. The official back panels of these two Anshin Shorts packs recommend wearing one on its own, without layering another pad inside, to preserve fit and ventilation. This is a product-specific instruction, not a rule about combining all menstrual products.
After use, you can tear the sides for removal and roll the item up for disposal. Tear-away sides are not refastenable closures. Include putting on a fresh pair in your changing plan.
All three official product directions say to replace as needed during menstruation. They do not give a universal no-change interval. “Night” and “until morning” describe the name or intended setting, not permission to ignore changing needs. A five-piece pack does not guarantee five nights of use.
Wrap the used product in its individual wrapper and put it in a sanitary-waste bin. Do not flush it. Kao also advises hygienic storage after opening, keeping dust and insects out. Keep travel spares individually wrapped rather than loose at the bottom of a bag.
Skin discomfort is not solved by choosing a bigger product
The manufacturer instructs users to consult a doctor if the product does not suit their skin. A longer pad, larger shorts or an extra layer is not a treatment for skin discomfort. The Japanese quasi-drug label, 医薬部外品, should not be read as a claim to treat period pain or gynaecological conditions.
Before paying, check the menstrual purpose, format, length, body fit, pack count and changing arrangements. This guide has not tested absorption and does not promise leak-free use. Reading the labels and choosing a workable changing routine is more useful than relying only on the packet’s prominent claims.
Official sources
- Laurier 朝までブロック
- Laurier 朝までブロック 安心ショーツ
- My Kao Mall — 朝までブロック400 10コ入
- My Kao Mall — 安心ショーツ M-L 5コ入
- My Kao Mall — 安心ショーツ ゆったりL 5コ入
- Kao — ナプキンのつけ方
This guide covers Japanese domestic products. Packaging may vary; check the full product name, size and instructions on the packet you buy.
Image sources and rights holders
Featured comparison image — product photographs: 花王株式会社 / Kao Corporation. Official source 1；Official source 2；Official source 3.
Product photographs are manufacturer images, not photographs taken by this blog.
Author portrait: Irene / this blog.
