ID :
329551
Wed, 05/21/2014 - 12:39
Auther :

Japanese Businesses Embrace Napping to Boost Efficiency

Tokyo, May 21 (Jiji Press)--A number of Japanese businesses are beginning to embrace the belief that napping in the afternoon can help raise efficiency at work. In a sleep guidance issued in March, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare recommended that workers take a nap of up to half an hour. Some companies have set aside siesta hours for employees and there is even a cafe catering to daytime napping. Information technology consulting company Hugo Co. has designated 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. as siesta time. Employees can be seen sleeping in their seats with eye masks on to keep out the light. The Osaka-based company adopted the afternoon nap in 2007 at the initiative of its president, Daisuke Nakata, who found during overseas business trips that many businesses in Europe and North America encourage napping. "If you continue working while fighting back drowsiness, your work performance drops. After taking a nap, you are able to work better," Nakata said. Since the siesta system was adopted, the work efficiency of employees has increased, according to the company. "Ohirune cafe corne," a cafe-cum-bedroom in central Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, is a convenient getaway for working women. Open only for women, the cafe hires out beds in its sleeping chamber for 160 yen per 10 minutes. Light meals and drinks are also available. "Many of our customers come here for a nap during their lunch break," said Sakiko Tsukashima, the manager of the shop. This month, the cafe began offering assistance to hospitals, libraries and businesses that plan to create napping environments. Sleep therapist Miho Mihashi, who serves as an adviser to the cafe, said it is ideal to catch a little sleep, for 15 to 30 minutes, before 2 p.m., when people tend to get sleepy. "Even if you failed to get enough sleep yesterday, taking a snooze today improves your performance. We hope to see people lead vibrant lives by taking naps," she said. END

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