Historically weak yen and high prices Currently, the rising cost of imports from overseas is increasing due to rising international energy and raw material prices, as well as the impact of the weak yen caused by monetary policy, leading to historically high prices. This year was the first Golden Week since COVID-19 was classified as a Class 5 infectious disease, and many people were seen taking measures such as choosing nearby travel destinations in Asia and bringing food with them to reduce food costs, due to the frugal nature of the yen. The inflation rate in 2023 is expected to be 3.1%, the highest in 41 years since 1982, when the second oil crisis was in full swing. In addition, according to an announcement by the Bank of Japan in January this year, the price outlook for the three years from fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2025 has been significantly revised upward, to fiscal 2023 (2.8%), fiscal 2024 (2.4%), and fiscal 2025 (1.8%) compared to the previous year, and prices are expected to continue to rise in the future. The double whammy of rising prices and electricity bills As the yen continues to weaken and prices rise, subsidies to reduce the electricity and gas costs for households and businesses that have been in place since January 2023 will be reduced from May usage . In addition, the unit price of the surcharge added to electricity bills to promote the use of renewable energy will also be raised from fiscal 2024, and all 10 major power companies are scheduled to raise electricity rates for June (for May usage). Compared to last month, monthly electricity bills for average households are expected to increase by around 540 to 720 yen. In addition to rising prices, the recent heatwave has meant that rising electricity bills will be a new blow to households, making it necessary to be even more aware of energy conservation and take measures to get through the summer without relying solely on air conditioning. The effects of summer sunlight and room temperature on sleep 40% of heat stroke cases occur at night while sleeping! We will introduce the effects of summer sunlight and room temperature on sleep, the importance of creating an environment that allows for good quality sleep, things to keep in mind, and finally, how to use cooling bedding as a new common practice for sleeping in the summer. In summer, the sun rises earlier, and the light of the sun awakens the brain, causing people to wake up earlier. Melatonin is secreted earlier, and people feel sleepy earlier, but the heat and other factors can make it difficult to fall asleep smoothly. Sunlight is known to suppress the desire to sleep by suppressing the secretion of the sleep hormone "melatonin," but in the summer, the sun rises earlier than any other time of the year, so melatonin secretion is not suppressed and the brain is awakened , causing you to wake up earlier. As a result, the secretion of melatonin at night also comes earlier than usual, causing the peak of sleepiness to come earlier, but since this timing is not in line with your normal sleep rhythm, you may fall into a loop where you are unable to fall asleep smoothly, resulting in reduced sleep time. In addition, due to global warming and other factors, temperatures are rising every year, and last year the number of emergency transports due to heat stroke increased by about 1.3 times compared to the year before. Heat stroke is likely to occur in Japan, where temperatures are high and humidity is high, but it is especially important to be careful about heat stroke at night. About 40% of heat stroke cases occur at night while sleeping , so it is important to take measures while sleeping at night. Generally, many people use air conditioners as a heating and cooling device in the summer, but in the current high prices, it is important to not only use air conditioners but also improve the environment in the bedroom and use cooling bedding to reduce the burden on the family and get through the summer sleep. *As of May 2024 (based on company research) By improving your bedroom environment and using cooling bedding, Increase your air conditioner temperature setting for a cooler, more comfortable sleep Air conditioners are the most common type of heating and cooling equipment and are widely used in many homes. According to the Ministry of the Environment, in order to save energy without compromising comfort, it is recommended that the room temperature be set at 28°C in summer and 20°C in winter (not the set temperature) (*). In order to sleep comfortably in the summer, it is important to not only use an air conditioner, but also to improve the overall bedroom environment and use cooling bedding. Adjusting factors such as room temperature, light, and bed temperature will lead to a comfortable bedroom environment. ■ Room temperature Keep the temperature between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius to cool down any walls that have been heated during the day. It is also important to keep the room out of direct wind while you sleep. ■ Light Use blackout curtains to adjust the amount of morning sun so it doesn't hit your face directly. ■ Temperature inside the bed (temperature inside the futon) The ideal environment is a temperature of 33±1°C and a humidity of 50%±5%. If you do not use a duvet properly, you may feel too cold in the morning due to the air conditioner's wind, or your sweat may evaporate and release heat, cooling your body down, which could be harmful to your health. In the summer, it is said that raising the air conditioner temperature setting by 1 degree Celsius can reduce electricity bills by 13%, which will save you money. By taking these steps, you can get a good night's sleep even in the midst of rising prices and electricity bills. *Ministry of the Environment's Statistical Survey on CO2 Emissions from the Household Sector The new standard for energy saving! "Cooling bedding" What is the first triple cooling function in history, "Brain Sleep Comforter Perfect Cool EX"? This time, we will introduce "Brain Sleep Comforter Perfect Cool EX", which has the first triple cooling function in history: cooling to the touch, sustained cooling, and moisture absorption cooling . Cooling bedding is bedding made of materials with high thermal conductivity. Typical examples include comforters, mattress pads, and pillowcases that have a cooling touch that feels cool to the touch, and more functional bedding such as sustained cooling is also available. Sustained cooling is a function that absorbs body heat when covered with a futon, and when the body and the futon are separated by turning over in bed, the heat is quickly released and the cooling sensation is restored, controlling a comfortable temperature until morning. On the other hand, although there are some cooling bedding that absorb moisture generated during sleep, there are not many cooling bedding that also have a moisture absorption cooling function that converts it into heat. In the summer, there are many sleep issues such as high prices, rising electricity bills, prolonged heat waves, and heatstroke at night and during sleep. In addition to improving your air conditioner and bedroom environment, using cooling bedding that supports maintaining the quality of your sleep will also help you save on electricity bills, making it comfortable and economical. <Features of Brain Sleep Comforter Perfect Cool EX> Enhanced triple cooling technology ■ Cool to the touch The contact cooling value (which indicates the amount of body heat transferred to the fabric; the higher the value, the cooler it feels) is 0.524, which is approximately 260% of the standard value of 0.2 (which feels slightly cool to the touch), providing the ultimate in coolness. ■ Sustained cooling sensation We have developed composite yarns by microencapsulating PCM(※) and incorporating it into duvet fibers. When you turn over in your sleep, the futon separates from your body, allowing heat to be released quickly, controlling your comfort until morning. *Innovative cooling technology developed for space suits ■ Moisture absorption and cooling sensation It absorbs moisture while you sleep and effectively converts it into a cooling sensation, achieving a maximum temperature drop of -7.7°C. [Perfect 4-layer structure that realizes triple technology] The four layers of moisture absorption/diffusion/antibacterial and deodorizing/sustained cooling/contact cooling/moisture absorption cooling create a comfortable summer sleeping environment. "Perfect Cool" series product introduction In addition to the "Brain Sleep Comforter Perfect Cool EX" we introduced, we would like to introduce the "Perfect Cool" series, which includes pillows, pillow covers, mattress protectors, etc. that can be used together to create an even more comfortable environment. Product name: Brain Sleep Pillow Perfect Cool Price (tax included): 36,300 yen Pillow cover and ice pack included Special features: The Brain Sleep Pillow has the same ultra-breathability as the pillow, but uses a gel that won't harden even when cooled in the freezer, so you can stay comfortable until morning. Product name: Brain Sleep Pillow Cover Perfect Cool EX Price (tax included): 5,500 yen Features: The ultimate cooling sensation that combines cooling to the touch and moisture absorption functions allows you to efficiently cool your head. Product name: Brain Sleep Comforter Perfect Cool EX Price (tax included): Single 24,200 yen and up Features: The triple technology of the highest quality cooling sensation, moisture absorption cooling sensation, and sustained cooling sensation ensures a comfortable sleep in the summer. Product name: Brain Sleep Mattress Protector Perfect Cool EX Price (tax included): Single 14,300 yen and up Features: The ultimate coolness is achieved by incorporating a highly cooling fabric with moisture-wicking cooling properties and a PCM layer that provides sustained cooling.
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