Daisuke Hori, a 40-year-old Japanese bodybuilder and father, grabbed news for his astonishing claim to be a "true master" of time management. Hori claims to have "doubled" his life by training himself to sleep only 30 minutes every night for the past twelve years. His unorthodox lifestyle has aroused both admiration and alarm, as he continues to lead a high-energy existence with little sleep.
Hori's strategy is based on favoring sleep quality above quantity. He believes that the body and mind may be trained to function correctly on only a fraction of the rest required by most individuals. Hori claims that his body is not weary and that he can keep attention and energy during his 23.5-hour work days. He attributes his athletic lifestyle and coffee usage to keeping him alert and productive.
"As long as you do sports or drink coffee an hour before eating, you can stave off drowsiness," Hori tells me.
Hori's adventure into ultra-short sleep began 12 years ago, when he wanted to reduce his overnight sleep in order to increase his day activity. His habit has subsequently grown into a lifestyle in which he aims for 30 to 45 minutes of sleep each night. This severe routine prompted him to establish the Japan Short Sleepers Training Association in 2016, where he trains people how to become ultra-short sleepers. Hori is said to have trained over 2,100 people thus far.
One of his trainees, for example, has effectively decreased her daily sleep time from eight hours to 90 minutes while retaining good skin and mental health.
Hori's unconventional lifestyle lately piqued the interest of Japanese media. He appeared on the reality show "Will you go with me?" and his everyday routine was captured throughout three days of filming. The show covered Hori's usual day, including his brief 26-minute nap, after which he awoke naturally, rejuvenated, and full of energy. The episode demonstrated Hori's capacity to sustain a high level of activity while sleeping little, including eating breakfast, going to work, and recording a workout.
While Hori's attitude to sleep has earned him praise for his discipline and determination, it has also raised worries among detractors. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) advises that individuals receive at least seven hours of sleep every night for optimal health. Lack of sleep has been associated to a variety of negative health effects, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and depression. Research conducted at Fuwai Hospital in Beijing discovered that sleeping in on weekends to compensate for sleep loss during the week might raise the risk of heart disease by up to 20%.
Critics of Hori's lifestyle are concerned that his excessive sleep deprivation might have major health implications. One concerned individual stated, "Even if the brain can stay awake, the heart won’t be able to handle it."
Hori's extreme approach to sleep and time management has been compared to other extreme biohacking approaches, such as those of Bryan Johnson, a 47-year-old entrepreneur who spends millions of dollars annually to preserve his young appearance and health. Johnson's practice consists of a stringent diet, exercise, and supplement regimen aimed at reversing the aging process.
As humanity continues to investigate the limitations of human performance and lifespan, people like Hori and Johnson push the edges of what is possible, challenging conventional thinking and stirring discussions about health, wellness, and the future of biohacking.
Hori's excessive sleep routines have surely divided opinions throughout the world. While some consider him a time management expert, others are concerned about the long-term consequences of such a lifestyle. Regardless, Hori's claim to have "doubled" his life by reducing sleep has catapulted him into the public eye, where his unconventional tactics remain a source of intrigue and discussion.