What if falling asleep could win you a cash prize? In Japan, a new competition is putting an unusual skill to the test: sleeping. Contestants will take part in a 90-minute sleep competition, with a top prize of ¥2.22 million, or around ₹13 lakh. The unusual event is attracting attention for turning something as ordinary as sleeping into a competitive challenge. But this is not simply about who can close their eyes and stay in bed the longest. The tournament will assess how participants sleep and whether they can remain asleep when unexpected disturbances are introduced.
Japan’s ‘Mattrace by Koala’ to take place in October
The event, called “Mattrace by Koala,” is being organised by Japanese mattress company Koala Japan. According to Tokyo Weekender, the sleep race is scheduled for October 5, 2026, at Share Green Minami Aoyama in Tokyo’s Minato ward. The competition will feature three 90-minute races held throughout the day. Each race is expected to have around 20 participants. If the number of applicants exceeds the available spots, participants will be selected through a lottery. Applications opened on September 4 and are scheduled to close on September 16 at 11:59 pm (Japan time). The event was announced by Koala Japan on September 4.
How the sleeping competition will work
Photo credit: Tokyo Weekender
Contestants will lie down on Koala mattresses and try to get the best sleep possible during the 90-minute race. However, the winner will not necessarily be the person who falls asleep first or sleeps for the entire duration. Participants will be assessed using a sleep score that considers several aspects of their rest. According to Tokyo Weekender, these include: Sleep depth, overall sleep quality, how quickly contestants fall asleep and stability of their sleep.Contestants will wear sleep-monitoring equipment during the competition. The scoring will be supervised by physicians, with the highest overall score determining the grand prize winner.
The catch: Organisers will disturb contestants
There is one unusual condition that makes this more than an ordinary nap. Organisers plan to introduce unexpected disturbances while contestants are sleeping. The idea is to see how well participants can maintain their sleep when their surroundings are not completely quiet or undisturbed. Staying asleep through these interruptions will be part of the challenge. The competition is therefore not only about falling asleep quickly. The quality and stability of sleep will also matter when the final scores are calculated.
₹13 lakh prize for the best sleeper
The overall winner will receive ¥2.22 million (yen), which is approximately ₹13.76 lakh. The prize amount is linked to the “Zzz” symbol commonly associated with sleep. In addition to the main prize, the organisers have announced special awards for deep sleepers and contestants with distinctive sleeping positions.
Rules contestants will have to follow
The competition also has rules intended to prevent participants from deliberately manipulating their sleep performance. According to reports, contestants will not be allowed to: Stay awake all night before the competition to make themselves more tired. Deliberately arrive extremely exhausted to increase their chances of falling asleep. Use sleeping pills or similar drugs to induce sleep. Participants will also take part in light exercises before settling down for the sleep race.
Why Koala is organising a sleep race
Koala Japan is presenting the event as a way to draw attention to sleep and its importance. The company, which makes mattresses, is using the competition to explore sleep quality in an unusual format. The tournament also brings attention to the difference between simply spending time in bed and achieving good-quality sleep. In this contest, falling asleep is only one part of the result. The depth, quality and stability of rest will all contribute to the final score.The first Mattrace by Koala is scheduled to take place in Tokyo on October 5.
