Japan is notorious for having long office hours and overworking. The two Japanese companies are working together to develop a “nap box” where people can sleep standing upright. This is supposed to help the situation.
Itoki Corporation, a furniture specialist, and Koyoju Gohan KK, a plywood supplier, signed a license agreement on Thursday and partnered to launch the nap boxes in offices in Japan to promote a healthier work environment.
Many employees in Japan are often referred to as “inemuri,” a term used to describe individuals who sleep during the day in order to trudge through a long commute or full workday.
Currently, in the design process, the nap box will have users sleep standing upright and will ensure comfort in the head, knees, and rear to support the user from falling over. The communications director of Itoki, Kawashima Saeko, aims to provide a healthier option for employees who wish to take short naps during the workday.
“In Japan, there are a lot of people who will lock themselves up in the bathroom for a while, which I don’t think is healthy. It’s better to sleep in a comfortable location,” Kawashima told Bloomberg. “I think a lot of Japanese people tend to work continuously with no breaks. We are hoping that companies can use this as a more flexible approach to resting.”
The pods’ release date and pricing are yet to be revealed.
