Japan’s ‘Best Sleeper’ Contest Gives Competitors 90 Minutes to Win

A competition in Japan has turned falling asleep into a competitive pursuit, with participants given 90 minutes to prove their talent for switching off.

The contestants, who described themselves as “professional sleepers,” faced an unusual challenge: lie down, relax and drift off as quickly as possible.

Rather than rewarding speed on a track or skill with a ball, the “Best Sleeper” contest put the ability to settle into sleep at the centre of the action.

The event offered a contrast to Japan’s reputation for hard work, in a country where insufficient sleep is a familiar problem.

For those taking part, the route to victory was simple in principle, if not necessarily easy under pressure: stop striving, get comfortable and fall asleep.