OECD statistics, in its 2019 Gender Data Portal, reveal that Japan has the shortest average sleep in the world at 442 minutes per day a year – approximately 7.3 hours a night.
What is Inemuri? In Japan, inemuri literally translates to dozing or nodding off, but in this case, it can also mean “sleeping while present.” It's a culturally accepted power nap that you can take in the middle of the workday in Japan.
The best way to take a power nap at work, according to one expert, is to fall asleep again about six hours after waking up the first time, sleeping for no more than 30 minutes, and not lying down completely. A power nap, by the way, is when you fall asleep for just a few minutes and wake up much more refreshed.
Meaning sleep can become quite rare thing. Therefore, many Japanese workers are known to take a powernap at work – mostly in secret, sat on a toilet seat. Not ideal and so last year, two Japanese companies, Koyoju Plywood Corporation and Itoki, even decided to join forces in order to develop a solution to that problem.
According to a 2021 survey by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Japanese sleep an average of seven hours and 22 minutes. This is the shortest duration among the member countries and almost an hour less than the OECD average of 8 hours and 24 minutes.
The Netherlands scored highest in the rankings, averaging almost 5.5 minutes more than 8 hours of sleep per night.
Although most people associate the siesta with Spain, the practice actually originated with ancient Romans in Italy, where it is called a riposo. Similar midday nap breaks are common around the Mediterranean and in many Latin American countries, where the midday is often hot.
The word “siesta” comes from the Latin hora sexta or "sixth hour" of the waking day. Philippines: Due to its Spanish influence, nap culture lives on in the Philippines. What country has mandatory nap time? Spain Siestas are known as a time when Spain shuts down to let everyone go home and nap in the middle of the day.
Siestas are historically common throughout the Mediterranean and Southern Europe, the Middle East, mainland China, and the Indian subcontinent. The siesta is an old tradition in Spain and, through Spanish influence, most of Latin America.
Adult naptime is recommended to be at least 15 minutes and no more than an hour. Elsewise, you might wake up groggy, so it would be better to have had no nap at all. You also shouldn't overeat as the midday nap, 午觉 Wǔjiào/ 午睡 Wǔshuì, is not traditionally caused by post prandial somnolence, aka.
For a quick energy boost, sleep for 10-20 minutes. If you're working a night shift, look for a 90-minute nap. If you're pulling an all-nighter, you can do either a 20-minute or a 90-minute nap.
Stick to the two recommended nap lengths: 20 minutes or 90 minutes. If you're feeling extra tired, it can be difficult to limit your sleep, but it's imperative to do so should you wish to wake up feeling recharged and refreshed.
While there are many contributing factors, cultural norms and work ethic are two of the biggest reasons people in Japan don't get enough sleep. Hopefully, as more people become aware of the importance of sleep, they will start to make changes that will help them get the rest they need.
Bits of Japanese Knowledge
In Japan, it is customary to strictly observe the assemble time and start time. Delay tends to be viewed as one of the critical "mistakes" that greatly reduce the reputation of students or employees in the schools and the society.
Both the 12-hour and 24-hour notations are commonly used in Japan. The 24-hour notation is commonly used in Japan, especially in train schedules.
Homo sapiens are the only species that deliberately deprives itself of sleep; all other mammals sleep at multiple points during the day when their bodies urge them to. Infants nap vigorously, which confirms that a bit of sleep during the day is perfectly natural - and necessary - for humans.
Japan is the country where people get the least shut-eye, according to Sleep Cycle. South Korea and Saudi Arabia are close behind. The top five countries are: Japan (less than 6 hours 20 minutes)
The hours can be so demanding that many South Koreans flock to “nap cafes” that have popped up in office buildings, offering workers a chance to snooze away their lunch breaks in dark, quiet rooms outfitted with comfy massage chairs.
In Italy siesta is known as riposo. Shops are closed midday for three hours or so, that way Italians get to go home, rest, and be with family. Riposo to Italians means enjoying a home cooked meal and spending time with family. Nothing beats the summer heat than laughter and being in the company of the people you love.
Brazil. The nation that parties all night gets more done in the day because they happen to rest up. Brazilians often schedule a meeting out of the office for 10:30 am or 11 am and then go straight to their two-hour lunch break. Like Spaniards, they work late and have supper late.
Afternoon nap is a traditional practice commonly seen in populations of Mediterranean, Latin American, and Chinese countries. In Chinese society, it is widely accepted that afternoon nap, as a complementary sleep, is a healthy activity and is especially good for older adults who need longer sleeping time.
Americans spend an average of 7 hours and 18 minutes in bed each night. They go to bed at 11:39 p.m., wake up at 7:09 a.m., spend 23.95 minutes snoring, have an average sleep quality of 74.2 percent, and rate their wake-up mood at 57 on a scale of 100.
In a 2022 Gallup survey, only 32% of Americans said they got “excellent” or “very good” sleep; 35% described their sleep as “good”; and 33% said their sleep was “fair” or “poor.”
The nation hasn't always been this sleep-deprived: Back in 1910, people slept an average of nine hours per night. Our culture of sleeplessness has been propelled by technologies like the light bulb and the Internet, which have given us more opportunities to stay awake in an increasingly 24/7 world.