Japanese entrepreneur, 40, sleeps for 30 minutes a day for the last 12 years. Here's why

Daisuke Hori cut back on sleep over a decade ago. (Image: Future Worlds/Facebook)

A 40-year-old entrepreneur from Japan claims he has been sleeping just 30 minutes a day for the past 12 years in increase productivity. Daisuke Hori, from Hyogo prefecture in western Japan, claims that drastically reducing his sleep has increased his active hours and improved his work efficiency.

Hori says he began cutting back on sleep over a decade ago, aiming to extend his waking hours. Through rigorous training, he says he has conditioned his body and mind to function optimally on just half an hour of sleep each day, without feeling fatigued. "As long as you do sports or drink coffee an hour before eating, you can stave off drowsiness," Hori told South China Morning Post.

In 2016, Hori founded the Japan Short Sleepers Training Association, where he offers classes on sleep management and health. He says that for certain professions requiring sustained focus, such as doctors and firefighters, high-quality sleep is more beneficial than long durations of rest.

Hori’s extreme lifestyle recently gained widespread attention when Japan's Yomiuri TV followed him for three days in a reality show titled “Will you go with me?” On one of the days, he slept for just 26 minutes but woke up naturally, brimming with energy. His routine includes a gym session before heading to work, demonstrating his unwavering vigour.

The Japan Short Sleepers Training Association, under Hori’s guidance, has reportedly trained over 2,100 individuals to become ultra-short sleepers. One of his students shared with Yomiuri TV that she has successfully reduced her sleep from eight hours to just 90 minutes after undergoing Hori’s training and has maintained it for four years, while still keeping her skin and mental health in prime condition.

However, Hori’s unconventional lifestyle has sparked heated debate online. While some praise his time management skills, others express concern about the long-term effects of such severe sleep deprivation.

Medical experts have also weighed in, cautioning against adopting such extreme sleep habits. Doctors recommend seven to nine hours of sleep every day for adults for the body and brain to recover and repair.