A department store in Osaka that suspended a campaign that encouraged female staff to wear badges indicating they were having their periods is planning to restart it using a different badge design.

The "period badges" introduced at Daimaru department store's Umeda branch were aimed at breaking a taboo in Japan on openly discussing problems related to menstruation, but prompted criticism from opponents who said the initiative invades privacy and is akin to sexual harassment.

The voluntary wearing of the paper badges, including by female staff at the Michikake store, which opened in late November and sells sanitary products and knickknacks for women, gained support from some customers, but the outlet decided to halt the program following criticism.