Japan’s sleep contest offers $14,000 prize

Japan is launching a unique sleep competition called "Mattrace by Koala," offering a prize of $14,000 for the winner. Participants must sleep for 90 minutes while their sleep is monitored and scored based on depth, quality, speed of falling asleep, and stability. The tournament, organized by the Japanese mattress company Koala Japan, will take place on October 5, 2026, at Share Green Minami Aoyama in Tokyo's Minato ward, with three races throughout the day.

Applications opened on September 4, 2026, and close on September 16 at 11:59 pm Japan time. Contestants will be disturbed during their sleep to test their ability to maintain stable sleep despite disruptions. Unusual rules prohibit participants from intentionally depriving themselves of sleep or using sleeping pills. The competition aims to highlight the importance of good sleep quality and the fact that simply lying down for 90 minutes does not guarantee high-quality sleep.