Japanese man sleeps 30 minutes: We have often heard doctors recommending seven-to eight hours of sleep for a healthy life. However, a man from Japan is claiming to have broken this convention by adopting a 30-minute sleep routine for the past 12 years to "double" his waking hours and boost his productivity.
Daisuke Hori, a 40-year-old resident of Hyogo prefecture in western Japan, claims that he has conditioned his body and mind through rigorous training, according to South China Morning Post. His unconventional routine apparently helps him function at optimal levels on minimal sleep without experiencing fatigue.
Hori is an entrepreneur with a passion for music, painting, and mechanical design. He began reducing his sleep time 12 years ago to gain more productive hours in his daily life. Over time, he successfully reduced his daily sleep requirement to just 30 to 45 minutes.
“To stay alert, engage in physical activity or drink coffee an hour before a meal,” he advised. In 2016, Hori established the Japan Short Sleepers Training Association, where he offers courses on sleep management and health. “Those who need intense concentration for their work benefit more from high-quality, shorter sleep rather than extended sleep periods.
For example, professionals like doctors and firefighters often have limited rest but maintain high efficiency,” Hori explained. Most people would classify 30 minutes of sleep as a 'nap', which is not enough for a day's productivity.
Hori’s lifestyle was even part of a TV reality show on Japan’s Yomiuri TV. The show titled 'Will you go with me?' documented him over three days, including one where he slept for only 26 minutes, waking up naturally and feeling refreshed.
After his brief rest, Hori went about his day, which included a visit to the gym before starting work.
According to his online profile, Hori has trained over 2,100 people to adopt ultra-short sleep habits, the SCMC report stated. The report further quoted one of his students, saying that she had successfully reduced her sleep from eight hours to just 90 minutes after undergoing Hori's training. She said that she has been maintaining good skin and mental health for four years.
Medical professionals have, however, cautioned that such extreme sleep reduction is not suitable for everyone and can have adverse effects. “Adults typically need seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Sleep is crucial for the body and brain to recover and rejuvenate,” Guo Fei, a neurologist at Huazhong University of Science and Technology Xiehe Shenzhen Hospital, was quoted by SCMC. “Chronic sleep deprivation can result in memory issues, weakened immune function, mood instability, and a higher risk of cardiovascular problems,” Guo added.
Eric Zhou from the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School says that the seven-hour-sleep rule for adults is more of a guideline. Some may need even more. However, one needs to look at sleep quality as well. Infants may need up to 16 hours of sleep a day, according to a study by Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
Across Asia, other instances of extreme lifestyles have been reported. For example, Prahlad Jani, an Indian yogi, claimed to have lived without food or water since 1940. He passed away at the age of 90 in 2020.