WHO IS DAISUKE HORI? JAPANESE MAN WHO HAS SLEPT ONLY 30 MINUTES A DAY FOR 12 YEARS – IS IT POSSIBLE?

Daisuke Hori, a 40-year-old entrepreneur from Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan, has been sleeping just 30 minutes each day for the past 12 years in a bid to "double" his life. By drastically reducing his sleep, Hori claims to have improved his work efficiency and overall productivity, stating that he never feels tired.

Hori, who has a passion for music, painting, and mechanical design, began cutting back on sleep to gain more active hours in his day. Over time, he has successfully trained his brain and body to function normally on just 30 to 45 minutes of rest. “As long as you do sports or drink coffee an hour before eating, you can stave off drowsiness,” he explained, as quoted by the South China Morning Post.

Daily routine

Hori’s daily routine includes work and gym sessions, which he fits into his extended waking hours. On one occasion, he slept for just 26 minutes but woke up feeling refreshed and full of energy.

Health cautions

Medical professionals caution that ultra-short sleep is not suitable for everyone and can have serious side effects. “Adults are recommended to get seven to nine hours of sleep each day. Sleep is an important period for the body and brain to recover and repair,” said Guo Fei, a neurologist at Huazhong University of Science and Technology Xiehe Shenzhen Hospital, as quoted by the South China Morning Post. Guo warned that chronic sleep deprivation can lead to memory decline, weakened immunity, mood disorders, and increased risks of cardiovascular diseases.

Hori’s lifestyle was featured on Japan’s Yomiuri TV show "Will You Go With Me?" which followed him for three days.

Training over 2,100 students to embrace ultra-short sleep

In 2016, Hori founded the Japan Short Sleepers Training Association, where he offers classes on sleep and health. He argues that people who need sustained focus, such as doctors and firefighters, benefit more from high-quality sleep rather than long sleep periods. To date, Hori claims to have taught over 2,100 students to become ultra-short sleepers.

One of his students shared with Yomiuri TV that she successfully reduced her sleep from eight hours to just 90 minutes per night after training with Hori. She has maintained this routine for four years while keeping her skin and mental health in excellent condition.

Social media reactions

Hori’s extreme sleep regimen has sparked heated discussions on social media. While some praise him as a master of time management and express interest in learning how to sleep less, others warn of potential health risks. “This is overdrawing one’s life in advance! Even if the brain can stay awake, the heart won’t be able to handle it,” one comment reads.

Apart from Hori, Prahlad Jani, an Indian yogi, has also claimed to have lived without food and water since 1940 and reportedly died at the age of 90 in 2020.