Daisuke Hori, 40, from Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan , said he has trained his brain and body to function normally with minimal sleep and never feels tired.
According to SCMP , Hori is an entrepreneur who loves music, painting and mechanical design. He started cutting down on his sleep time 12 years ago to have more active hours each day. Since then, he only sleeps for 30-45 minutes each day.
“As long as you play sports or drink coffee an hour before eating, you can avoid drowsiness,” he said.
In 2016, Hori founded the Japan Short Sleeper Training Association, where he holds classes on sleep and health.
“People who need to focus continuously on work will benefit more from high-quality sleep than long sleep. For example, doctors and firefighters have shorter rest periods but still maintain high efficiency,” he said.
In a reality show called "Will you go with me?", Japanese TV station Yomiuri TV followed Hori for 3 days. On the first day, Hori slept for only 26 minutes and woke up naturally, full of energy.
After breakfast, he goes to work and spends time exercising. Hori's online resume reveals that he has taught more than 2,100 students to become ultra-short sleepers.
One of them told Yomiuri TV that she cut her sleep time from eight hours to just 90 minutes a day after starting to train and has maintained this for four years. At the same time, she still maintains good skin and mental health.
Hori's story sparked heated discussion on social media. One netizen commented: "He is a real master of time management. I also want to learn how to sleep less and work more efficiently."
But another opinion says: “This is a drain on life. Even if the brain can stay awake, the heart cannot take it.”
Doctors say ultra-short naps are not suitable for everyone and can cause side effects.
Guo Fei, a neurologist at Shenzhen Xiehe Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, said: "Adults should sleep 7-9 hours a day. Sleep is an important time for the body and brain to recover and repair."
“Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to memory loss, weakened immunity, mood disorders and increased risk of cardiovascular disease,” the doctor added.
