Sleeping for Cash? Japan's Unique Contest Draws Dozens
What Happened
Dozens of self-described “competitive sleepers” gathered in Tokyo for the Matt Race, a unique contest where participants competed to fall asleep the fastest and achieve the deepest sleep during a 90-minute session. Contestants slept on mattresses while sleep-tracking devices monitored factors such as sleep depth, quality and speed of falling asleep. The event, organised by Koala Sleep Japan, awarded the winner more than two million yen (about $14,000).
Key Takeaways
Beyond the novelty, the contest aimed to highlight Japan's chronic sleep deprivation problem. OECD data cited by organisers shows Japanese people get the least sleep among OECD countries, making better sleep habits an increasing public concern.