Sleep-deprived Japan turns napping into a competition

Tokyo,
Japan, a country known for long working hours and chronic sleep deprivation, has found an unusual way to promote better rest: turning sleep into a contest. In Tokyo, dozens of participants took part in an event called the “Mat Race,” where they wore sleep-tracking devices and were challenged to fall asleep quickly and deeply on comfortable mattresses.
The event was organized by mattress maker Koala Sleep Japan, which offered a first prize of more than 2 million yen (about $14,000). Participants were given up to 90 minutes to sleep while monitors tracked their rest. Afterward, Ryuichiro Nakama, creative director at Koala Sleep Japan, said: “Japan is often called a sleep-deprived country, and people here work very hard.”
OECD data shows that Japanese people slept an average of just seven hours and 24 minutes a day in 2021, the lowest among OECD countries in the dataset. The winner, who goes by the nickname Sui Mei, said she plans to use the prize money for moving expenses and a new bed.
In developed countries, people often work extra hard to maintain their position and status, and corporate competition also pushes employees to put in additional hours. As a result, people do not get adequate rest, leading to stress, insomnia and other health problems.