On average, the human body requires about 6-8 hours of sleep each night for optimal health. Insufficient sleep can adversely affect mood and daily functioning. Experts agree that consistently achieving this amount of sleep enhances mood, cognitive function, and overall well-being. However, there are exceptional cases that challenge this norm.

One such case is that of Daisuke Hori, a Japanese man from Hyogo Prefecture, who has reportedly adhered to a sleep routine of just 30 minutes per day for the past 12 years. According to the South China Morning Post, the 40-year-old Hori has managed to train his body and brain to operate normally on minimal sleep, believing this practice has significantly increased his work efficiency.

Hori claims that exercising or drinking coffee an hour before eating helps combat drowsiness. He argues that high-quality sleep is more crucial than the duration of sleep for maintaining focus. He cites professions that require intense concentration, like doctors and firefighters, who manage with shorter rest periods but high efficiency. “High-quality sleep is more beneficial for those needing sustained concentration,” Hori stated, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

To investigate Hori’s claims, Japan’s Yomiuri TV featured him in a reality show called Will You Go With Me? The show followed Hori for three days, showcasing how he functioned on just 26 minutes of sleep, waking up refreshed, having breakfast, working, and even going to the gym.

Additionally, in 2016, Hori founded the Japan Short Sleepers Training Association, where he teaches classes on optimizing sleep and health. He has trained over 2,100 individuals to become ultra-short sleepers.

In another remarkable case, an 80-year-old Vietnamese man named Thai Ngoc claims to have been unable to sleep for over 60 years. Ngoc attributes his insomnia to a fever he contracted in 1962 and reports that despite various treatments and sleeping pills, his condition has not improved.