Dozens of Japanese people competed in Tokyo for the €11,000 prize, trying to fall asleep as quickly as possible and sleep as well as possible

Dozens of participants competed Monday in Tokyo in an unusual sleeping contest organized to draw attention to the importance of rest in Japan, one of the countries where people sleep the least because of long working hours, commuting and nightlife.

The competition, titled “Matt Race,” was organized by mattress company Koala Sleep Japan. Contestants stretched out on comfortable mattresses in dim light, some holding their favorite stuffed toy, and had just one rule: to sleep for no more than 90 minutes.

Participants wore sensors that measured how quickly they fell asleep and the quality of their sleep. The winner’s prize exceeded two million yen, equivalent to approximately €11,000.

Contestant Suimii, who used a pseudonym, was declared the winner. She said she would use the money to buy an apartment and a princess bed.

According to 2021 OECD data, Japanese people slept an average of seven hours and 24 minutes a day, the least among the organization’s member states. The organizers say the event may encourage people to pay more attention to sleep.