Tokyo holds first "competitive sleeping" contest, the "Matt Race"
Dozens of people with sleep trackers slept on mattresses in Tokyo's "Matt Race", organised by Koala Sleep Japan, for a top prize of over 2 million yen. It was billed as a way to promote better rest in a country with the lowest average sleep in the OECD.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Japan held what coverage describes as its first "competitive sleeping" contest in Tokyo on Monday, 5 October, a event dubbed the "Matt Race". France 24N “The Tokyo competition, dubbed "Matt Race", saw dozens of participants fitted with sleep tracking devices sprawl on comfy mattresses to slumber for up to 90 minutes Monday” Read at France 24 ↗ Gulf NewsN “Dozens of participants took part in a contest dubbed “Matt Race” in Tokyo” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 1Participants wore sleep-tracking devices and had up to 90 minutes to sleep on comfortable mattresses while monitors tracked their rest, with the challenge being to fall asleep quickly and deeply. Gulf NewsN “Participants were given up to 90 minutes to sleep while monitors tracked their rest.”“challenged to fall asleep quickly and deeply on comfortable mattresses” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 2The top prize was more than 2 million yen (about $14,000). France 24N “competing for the top prize of over two million yen ($14,000)” Read at France 24 ↗ Gulf NewsN “the competition offered a top prize of more than 2 million yen ($14,000)” Read at Gulf News ↗
Centre · 1The contest was organised by mattress company Koala Sleep Japan. Gulf NewsN “Organised by mattress company Koala Sleep Japan” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 1Riichiro Nakama, creative director at Koala Sleep Japan, said Japan is often described as a country suffering from sleep deprivation and that people there are very diligent. Gulf NewsN ““Japan is often described as a country suffering from sleep deprivation, and people here are very diligent,” said Riichiro Nakama, creative director at Koala Sleep Japan” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 1The winner, who uses the nickname Suimii, said she plans to spend the prize money on moving costs and a new bed. Gulf NewsN “The winner, who uses the nickname Suimii, said she plans to use the prize money for moving costs and a new bed.” Read at Gulf News ↗
Centre · 2The contest was presented against a background of concern about sleep deprivation: people in Japan sleep less on average than in any other OECD country, and OECD data showed an average of seven hours and 24 minutes a day in 2021, the lowest in the dataset. France 24N “people sleep less on average than in any other OECD country” Read at France 24 ↗ Gulf NewsN “OECD data showed Japanese people averaged just seven hours and 24 minutes of sleep a day in 2021 — the lowest among OECD countries in the dataset.” Read at Gulf News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Light human-interest pieces that tie the novelty contest to Japan's reputation for sleep deprivation and overwork.
- Emphasis
- The contest format, prize and Japan's low sleep average; Gulf News adds the organiser, a quote, the winner and OECD figures.
- Leaves out or plays down
- France 24's short item omits the organiser, the winner and the specific OECD figure; neither outlet gives results or scoring details.
- Charged language
- “competitive sleepers”
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The "Matt Race" took place in Tokyo with dozens of participants wearing sleep trackers.
- Participants had up to 90 minutes to sleep on mattresses.
- The top prize was over 2 million yen (about $14,000).
- Japanese people sleep less on average than people in any other OECD country.
Europe1 outlet
France 24 frames the contest as a response to sleep deprivation as a major health issue.
“Sleep deprivation is seen these days as a major health issue” — France 24
France 24
Middle East1 outlet
Gulf News frames it as a quirky way to promote better rest in an overworked country.
“In a country known for long working hours and chronic sleep deprivation” — Gulf News
Gulf News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Japan holds first ‘competitive sleeping’ contest
Neutral Brief video item presenting the contest as an effort to get people to sleep longer amid a national sleep-deprivation problem.
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Sleep-deprived Japan turns catching the perfect nap into a competition
Neutral Lightly amused feature on an unusual way to promote rest, with organiser quote, winner and OECD data; text is credited to AFP video.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 6 Oct 10:53 First France 24N Japan holds first ‘competitive sleeping’ contest
- 6 Oct 11:04 +11m Gulf NewsN Sleep-deprived Japan turns catching the perfect nap into a competition
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.