Daisuke Hori faces potential refund lawsuit over sleep program

Daisuke Hori, head of the Japan Short Sleeper Training Association, is facing potential legal action following scrutiny of his ‘Hori Method’ sleep improvement program. Lawyer and tax accountant Shusuke Fujiyoshi has begun collecting information from former participants to consider a refund lawsuit. The legal focus is not on whether Hori actually sleeps only 30 minutes a day, but whether the program’s marketing—which claimed ‘98% satisfaction’ and ‘average reduction of 2 hours and 14 minutes’—was misleading to consumers who paid between 100,000 and 600,000 yen.

To address growing skepticism regarding his claims, Hori initiated a seven-day continuous live stream to demonstrate his lifestyle. However, the broadcast has faced several controversies, including instances where Hori appeared to fall into ‘micro-sleeps’ during sessions and a technical incident involving accidental exposure during a bath. Amidst the social media backlash, Hori has expressed a shift in strategy, stating he will move away from a strict 30-minute sleep goal to incorporate short naps.