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Sleep Well, Win 19 Million Won: 'Nap Championship' Held in Japan

Go Hui-gyeong

Published : Oct 22, 2026 8:21 AM

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A world where you can make a fortune just by sleeping well probably sounds like a dream.

Well, it has become a reality in Japan.

Let us take you to the scene of this unique competition.

People lie side by side on beds, trying to fall asleep.

At first glance, it might look like naptime, but this is a sleep competition held in Tokyo, Japan.

With a prize of 19 million won in Korean currency on the line, participants compete to see who can fall asleep the fastest and the deepest.

Participants sleep for 90 minutes with sleep-monitoring devices attached to their foreheads and behind their ears. The evaluation is based not only on the depth and quality of sleep, but also on how long it takes them to fall asleep and how stably they maintain their sleep.

To disrupt their slumber, organizers occasionally introduce doorbell sounds, delivery person voices, and even mirror ball lighting.

If you manage to stay sound asleep despite these disturbances, you pass!

At this point, you have to wonder if a good night's sleep is actually a talent.

(Photo Source: Instagram @koala.jp, @jiriko_tuft, YouTube @Afr o&Co.)