In a diligent yet exhausted country, self-described elite “competitive sleepers” vied to lie down, relax and nap the fastest and deepest in a contest organised by a mattress company.
The Tokyo competition, dubbed “Matt Race”, saw dozens of participants fitted with sleep tracking devices sprawl on comfy mattresses to slumber for up to 90 minutes on Monday, competing for the top prize of over ¥2mil (RM51,512).
“Japan is often described as a country suffering from sleep deprivation, and people here are very diligent,” said Riichiro Nakama, a creative director who supervised the planning of the competition.
Inside a dimly-lit room, participants slept with monitors attached to their heads, some cradling stuffed toys in their beds.
OECD data showed in 2021 that Japanese people slept an average seven hours 24 minutes a day with experts citing long working and commuting hours and a busy nightlife economy as factors.
“It was over in an instant. I almost wish I could have slept a little longer,” participant Chisato Honda, 32, said.
The winner was chosen based on how quickly and soundly they slept.
“I want to live on my own, so I think I’ll use the money for the moving costs,” said Suimii, the contest winner.
“I also want a bed like a princess’s, so I think I’ll buy that bed.” — AFP
