Japan to host sleep competition with 12,500 euro prize

The Japanese branch of the company Koala is organizing a unique competition titled ‘Mattrace by Koala’ in Tokyo. Participants will compete to achieve the highest quality sleep over a 90-minute period on specially equipped mattresses.

Experts will use devices to monitor sleep depth, quality, stability, and the time taken to fall asleep. To ensure fairness, participants are prohibited from intentionally depriving themselves of sleep before the event. The competition includes preparatory ‘sleep gymnastics’ and may involve random sleep aids to test adaptability.

The winner will receive a prize of 2.22 million yen, approximately 12,500 euros. Additional awards will be given for categories such as deepest sleep and most unusual sleeping positions. Beyond the novelty, organizers aim to raise awareness regarding chronic sleep deprivation in Japan caused by long working hours and stress.