In an age where most people struggle to get their recommended seven to nine hours of sleep, one Japanese bodybuilder claims he’s cracked the code to living a longer, more productive life by sleeping just 30 minutes a night. Daisuke Hori, a 40-year-old father and entrepreneur from the Hyogo prefecture, says he has trained his body to function on a mere fraction of the sleep experts recommend.
For over a decade, Hori has embraced what many would consider an extreme lifestyle, drastically reducing his sleep to gain more hours in his day. His goal? To maximize productivity and, according to him, to “double” his life expectancy. It’s a bold claim, and one that has both intrigued and concerned people worldwide.
Hori’s routine is nothing short of extraordinary. He spends only 30 to 45 minutes sleeping each night, waking up naturally and feeling fully refreshed, or so he says. The rest of his day—nearly 24 hours—is filled with work, workouts, and other activities, all fueled by sheer willpower, physical activity, and, unsurprisingly, a good amount of caffeine.
“As long as you do sports or drink coffee an hour before eating, you can stave off drowsiness,” Hori told the South China Morning Post. It’s an approach that prioritizes the quality of sleep over the quantity, a concept that Hori argues is beneficial for those needing sustained focus in their work. He likens his sleep habits to those of doctors and firefighters, who often have to maintain high efficiency on limited rest.
Hori’s lifestyle was recently highlighted in a Japanese reality TV show, which followed him over three days. During one of these days, Hori reportedly slept for just 26 minutes but still managed to complete a full day’s work and a rigorous workout. He credits his ability to function on such little sleep to years of disciplined training, both mentally and physically.
In 2016, Hori founded the Japan Short Sleepers Training Association, and claims to have taught over 2,100 people to drastically reduce their sleep without sacrificing their health. One of his students, who cut her sleep from eight hours to just 90 minutes, reported improved skin and mental health.
However, not everyone is convinced by Hori’s claims. Dr. Thomas Kilkenny, director of the Institute of Sleep Medicine at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, expressed serious doubts. “I find it very hard to believe that this gentleman only sleeps 90 minutes daily. This seems to be impossible,” Kilkenny told The Post. He warned that sleep deprivation can lead to severe health consequences, including obesity, heart disease, and even death. “Continued lack of sleep will cause death. Sleep deprivation is banned by the Geneva convention as a form of torture. A human cannot function correctly without the proper amount of sleep,” Kilkenny added.
Despite the skepticism, Hori’s unconventional sleep schedule has garnered both admiration and concern online. Some view him as a master of time management, while others fear that he’s pushing his body to dangerous extremes.
Hori is not alone in his quest to defy the aging process. He joins a growing number of entrepreneurs, like 47-year-old Bryan Johnson, who spend vast sums of money on bio-hacking their bodies in hopes of turning back the clock. But while Johnson’s methods involve a strict routine of diet, exercise, and medical interventions, Hori’s path is far more radical—and far more controversial.
In a world obsessed with productivity and efficiency, Hori’s story is a striking example of how far some will go to stretch the limits of human endurance. Whether he’s truly onto something revolutionary or simply putting his health at risk, only time will tell. But for now, Hori continues to live his life in the fast lane, with sleep left far behind.
