TOKYO - A first-of-its-kind sleep competition was held in Tokyo on October 5, with contestants competing for a 2.22 million yen top prize by trying to achieve the deepest, fastest and most stable sleep during a 90-minute session.
The event, called the "Matt Race," used brain-wave monitoring devices worn on participants' heads to measure three factors: the depth and quality of sleep, the time taken to fall asleep, and the stability of sleep throughout the competition.
The measurements were combined into a proprietary sleep score, with the participant recording the highest total score declared the winner.
The unusual 2.22 million yen first prize was inspired by "Zzz," the familiar written representation of sleeping, with the letter Z being associated visually with the number two. The runner-up was also eligible for a prize of 220,000 yen.
The competition was organized by bedding company Koala Mattress as a way to draw attention to sleep habits in Japan, where average sleep duration is among the shortest internationally.
Organizers said the aim was to encourage people to think more seriously about sleep while presenting the subject in an entertaining way. A company representative from Australia said Japanese society has a culture in which people often sacrifice sleep because of long working hours and household responsibilities.
Beds were lined up across the competition venue, with participants attempting to fall asleep after the lights were dimmed and the session began with a signal telling them good night.
Some participants appeared to fall asleep almost immediately, while others struggled because of the unfamiliar surroundings, cameras and other activity at the venue.
Organizers asked competitors not to deliberately arrive sleep-deprived to gain an advantage. Participants were expected to attend in a reasonably healthy and rested condition, although compliance was based largely on self-reporting.
Contestants ranged broadly from their 20s to their 50s, with both men and women taking part. Some said they entered because they wanted the prize money, while another participant said February 22 was their birthday, making the repeated use of the number two particularly appealing.
The event consisted of three races with about 25 people in each, for a total of roughly 75 competitors.
Demand to participate was exceptionally high, with organizers saying the application-to-place ratio exceeded 800 to one.
Source: YOMIURI
