Brain Sleep Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Atsushi Hirota; hereinafter "Brain Sleep") will provide a sleep improvement program (hereinafter "this program") uniquely developed to address the individual sleep challenges of each member of the Overwatch division, a leading professional e-sports team in Japan whose sport has been adopted as an official Olympic event and is currently attracting significant attention. This program will support performance improvement in competitions. "e-sports" is a competition that not only involves playing games but also tests strategic thinking, high technical skills, and mental fortitude. The "e-sports" industry as a whole faces sleep challenges, and a decline in sleep quality negatively impacts motivation and mental health. To contribute to improving players' performance and stabilizing their mental health in the "e-sports" industry, which is expected to develop further, we have decided to offer this program to the Overwatch division. Updates on the progress of this program and the state of sleep improvement will be streamed on VARREL's official YouTube channel at 6 PM on Thursday, December 26, and future improvements will be reported and streamed on each player's official X account. Background of the Initiative Brain Sleep advocates for "brain-deep sleep" as not merely a means of physical rest, but something that enhances daytime performance. We also believe that improving sleep quality, not just duration, is crucial. In recent years, mind sports, which require high-level cognitive abilities, have been gaining significant attention, and among them, "e-sports" is experiencing increasing popularity as a professional competition, with many world-class tournaments being held. However, e-sports players, who spend long hours in front of screens, still face numerous sleep challenges. As playing at night is common, and they are often exposed to strong lights such as blue light emitted from screens, a significant decline in sleep quality, such as delayed sleep rhythm and increased awakenings during sleep, is frequently observed. Preliminary research on "e-sports" showed that professional e-sports players have a median bedtime of 3:43 AM and a median wake-up time of 11:24 AM. While this may seem like sufficient sleep duration, it clearly indicates a delayed sleep rhythm. The same study also reported an average of 47.9 minutes of awakenings during sleep, indicating a challenge with fragmented sleep (this duration is approximately 30 minutes longer compared to the average of 19.8 minutes for Brain Sleep Coin users). In mind sports, a decline in sleep quality leads to decreased playing performance, including impaired judgment and slower reaction times. Furthermore, the same research found that "the longer the training time, the higher the depression score"*1, and since improving sleep quality also affects mental health, improving sleep quality is expected to contribute to players' mental care. Additionally, with the shift in viewing methods from recorded content to real-time streaming, not only players but also spectators may face similar sleep challenges. By making this initiative known not only to players but also to spectators, we hope to make more people aware of the importance of sleep and encourage behavioral changes, which led us to implement this program. *1 Lee S, et al. (2021). Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18, 664. Brain Sleep's Originally Developed! VARREL Overwatch Division Sleep Improvement Program Overview 1. Visualization of Sleep Status Before Improvement ① Sleep Deviation Score® (Subjective) The current sleep status of each member is evaluated and quantified from a multi-faceted and comprehensive perspective. By quantifying subjective evaluations from a wide range of perspectives, such as subjective symptoms related to sleep and sleep habits, and presenting them as a "deviation score," it becomes possible to grasp the relative sleep state within the entire Japanese population. ② Sleep Measurement Tool "Brain Sleep Coin" (Objective) Analyze data measured during sleep for each member's current sleep status to clarify challenges. A sleep measurement tool that uses a unique measurement algorithm developed based on data accumulated from sleep research to quantify sleep. It enables personalized analysis based on human movement. 2. Implementation of Sleep Seminar Provision of basic sleep knowledge and sharing of overall team sleep trends. In addition, individualized advice, including personalized improvement plans, will be provided to address individual challenges. 3. Execution of Sleep Improvement Program ① Sleep Improvement Execute the sleep quality improvement points learned in the sleep seminar. Weekly reports on sleep status will also be provided to maintain motivation for sleep improvement. ② Introduction of Brain Sleep Products To ensure higher quality sleep, we will introduce "Brain Sleep Pillow," "Brain Sleep Mattress Plus Float," and "Brain Sleep Comforter Perfect Warm Dual." Challenges Identified from Sleep Measurement As the first step of the sleep improvement program, we visualized the current sleep status of VARREL members, which revealed two major challenges. 1. Delayed Sleep Rhythm Comparing the VARREL members' bedtime and wake-up time with those of "Brain Sleep Coin" users, it was found that their sleep rhythm was delayed by an average of 5 hours. Furthermore, their bedtime, wake-up time, and sleep duration were inconsistent day by day. This is likely due to playing e-sports at night. 2. Increased Sleep Latency (time taken from lying in bed to falling asleep) and Wake After Sleep Onset (time spent awake during sleep) Observing the sleep status of VARREL members, it was confirmed that, compared to "Brain Sleep Coin" users, sleep latency increased by approximately 8 minutes on average, and wake after sleep onset extended by approximately 4 minutes on average. This is attributed to the delayed sleep rhythm, causing them to start sleeping in the early morning, which is a time when the human body's internal clock makes it difficult to sleep, and also to sleep being disturbed by sunlight. Comments from Overwatch Division Members Brain Sleep's sleep improvement project has begun. Since all team members live together in the same house, if we notice any issues, we want to point them out to each other and work on improving our sleep. We will do our best to improve our game performance by improving our sleep. What is VARREL [VARREL] VARREL is a professional e-sports team representing Japan. Particularly in Overwatch and fighting game scenes, they boast top-level skill and achievements in Japan. They are a leading team in the country, contributing to the development of the e-sports industry through various initiatives beyond just competition, such as event management and apparel brand promotion. [VARREL Overwatch Division] An international top-level e-sports team active both domestically and abroad. In 2023, they became the first Japanese team to advance to the "Overwatch League™️ Spring Stage Opens EAST." Additionally, all members were selected to represent Japan in the "Overwatch World Cup 2023" held in the same year, achieving brilliant results on the world stage. They continue to challenge themselves, aiming to improve competitive performance and promote e-sports, serving as a bridge connecting fans and the industry. VARREL Official Website: https://varrel.jp/team/OVERWATCH YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2MASdlk3Dk
Log in
