Table 4 Summary of comments categorised by attitudes toward traditional menstruation practices (n = 22)

Attitude 1 Negative feelings about traditional practices towards menstruation

Comments (Background: Caste, age, hometown, length of stay in Japan)

1–1.

In Nepal, I had to perform traditional menstruation practices because I lived with my family. They caused me many difficulties. Now that I’m in Japan, I don’t have to perform these practices, so I can live my life normally during my period. Therefore, there is no problem now. (Brahmin, 28, Kathmandu, 0 years)

1–2.

I can spend time during menstruation more comfortably in Japan than in Nepal because I am not forced to follow any traditional menstruation practices in Japan. (Brahmin, 26, Chitwan, 2 years)

1–3.

In Nepal, women performed traditional menstruation practices, which are burdensome. I think that Japanese women are more comfortable during menstruation than Nepalese women. (Brahmin, 41, Kathmandu, 4 years)

1–4.

I wish traditional menstruation practices were abolished in Nepal. (Chettri, 26, Nepal [Others], 6 years)

1–5.

I pay attention to those around me during menstruation in Nepal, but I don’t need to do that in Japan. (Newar, 28, Kathmandu, 6 years)

Attitude 2 Stress due to difficulty in implementing traditional menstruation practices

Comments (Background: Caste, age, hometown, length of stay in Japan)

2–1.

I performed traditional menstruation practices strictly in Nepal, but I cannot perform them here because of our small living room in Japan. Three women: (Brahmin, 24, Chitwan, 0 years), (Brahmin, 30, Chitwan, 0 years), (Brahmin, 30, Kathmandu, 2 years)

2–2.

I don’t have my own house in Japan, so I have difficulties during menstruation. I want to perform traditional menstruation practices in Japan, but I can’t. (Brahmin, 35, Kathmandu, 8 years)

2–3.

I don’t like to cook meals when guests visit my house during menstruation in Japan. (Brahmin, 29, Lumbini, 1 year)

2–4.

I performed traditional menstruation practices in Nepal without hesitation because I lived with my large family. However, it is difficult for me to perform them in Japan because we have a small family. (Brahmin, 30, Lumbini, 1 year)

2–5.

It is difficult for me to perform traditional menstruation practices (for example, cooking, etc.) in Japan because I live with my family in smaller rooms than in Nepal. (Brahmin, 33, Kathmandu, 1 year)

2–6.

It is harder to perform traditional menstruation practices in Japan than in Nepal. (Brahmin, 42, Kathmandu, 4 years)

Attitude 3 Social adaptation through the balance between traditional and modern menstruation practices

Comments (Background: Caste, age, hometown, length of stay in Japan)

3–1.

As we had many events for each ethnic group in Nepal, I strictly performed traditional menstruation practices there. Now, I think that the Japanese style of dealing with menstruation is good. (Brahmin, 26, Kathmandu, 0 years)

3–2.

I performed traditional menstruation practices in Nepal and deal with menstruation in the Japanese style now that I live in Japan. Three women: (Brahmin, 27, Lumbini, 0 years), (Brahmin, 30, Nepal [Others], 9 years), (Brahmin, 24, Pokhara, 3 years)

3–3.

I performed traditional menstruation practices in Nepal, but do not perform them in Japan at all. (Brahmin, 24, Pokhara, 3 years)

3–4.

I have no difficulty in dealing with menstruation in the Nepalese or Japanese manner. Three women: (Brahmin, 29, Nepal [Others], 2 years), (Brahmin, 26, Kathmandu, 2 years), (Brahmin, 25, Kathmandu, 2 years)

3–5.

I rarely go to temples during menstruation in Nepal. I do go to temples during menstruation in Japan, but I don’t think it is good. (Brahmin, 38, Kathmandu, 3 years)