New health management service visualised from "sleep"
New health management service visualised from "sleep"
Changes in Japanese Sleep Duration
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the average sleep duration for Japanese people had been gradually increasing. However, a 2026 survey of 10,000 employed individuals revealed that the average sleep duration was 6 hours and 41 minutes, marking the second-worst result since the survey began, following 2020. This represents a significant decrease from 6 hours and 50 minutes in the previous year, indicating that the improving trend has reversed. This level is significantly below the recommended sleep duration for maintaining health and remains overwhelmingly shorter compared to the average sleep duration of 8 hours and 28 minutes in OECD member countries. It can be said that the structural issue of Japan's sleep duration being among the lowest globally remains unaddressed.
《Survey Results》
Average sleep duration is 6 hours and 41 minutes.
Sleep duration significantly below the healthy line, worsening to the second-worst in survey history.
*One-way ANOVA was performed on all data and found to be significant (p<0.01). Furthermore, Bonferroni-corrected t-tests were performed for sleep duration comparisons with the previous year, confirming significant differences for 2020-2024 and 2025-2026 (all p<0.01). For comparisons between 2025-2026, Welch's t-test was used for bedtime and average overtime, confirming significant differences (all p<0.01).
Sleep Characteristics of People in their 20s
People in their 20s were the only age group to show an average sleep duration exceeding 7 hours, appearing as "sleep exemplary" individuals. This is likely due to many prioritizing sleep even during busy times, actively seeking sleep-related information, adjusting their behavior before bed, and being proactive in investing time and money in sleep. This highlights a high awareness of sleep as a "resource to be managed."
On the other hand, it also became clear that their average wake-up time is relatively late, and there is a significant difference between weekday and holiday sleep duration, with holiday sleep being more than 2 hours longer than on weekdays. This indicates that while they secure enough sleep (quantity), they also have an unstable sleep rhythm that relies on "catching up" on sleep on weekends.
《Survey Results》
Those in their 20s invest in sleep.
"The only group with over 7 hours of sleep," "sleep exemplary" with high sleep awareness.
However, the "catch-up sleep rhythm" on weekends is a challenge.
*Welch's one-way ANOVA was performed on sleep duration, bedtime, and wake-up time, confirming significant age differences (p<0.05). People in their 20s had the longest sleep duration and latest wake-up time (Welch's t-test for 20s vs. each age group, p<0.05).
*A χ² test (20s/30s/40s/50s/60s × applicable/not applicable) was performed on sleep awareness and behavior, confirming significance for all indicators (p<0.05). Furthermore, "actively collecting information about sleep" and "willing to spend time and money on sleep in the future" were significantly higher for people in their 20s than other age groups (χ² test for 20s vs. 30s-60s, all p<0.01).
Fatigue and its Solutions
When asked about their condition over the past month, approximately 80% of respondents answered "always tired," "often tired," or "sometimes tired," revealing that most people experience fatigue on a daily basis.
《Survey Results》
80% of Japanese people experience fatigue, with "sleep" being the top solution.
*Those who felt fatigue: those who answered "always tired," "often tired," or "sometimes tired" regarding the frequency of feeling tired in the past month.
*A χ² test was performed on sleep quality × presence of fatigue, confirming a significant difference (p<0.01). The proportion of fatigue monotonically increased as sleep quality worsened, and a trend test also confirmed significance (p<0.01).
Relationship between Performance and Sleep
Looking at individual factors that influence daytime performance, "emotional stability (21.3%)" and "sleep quality (16.3%)" ranked high. However, when combining sleep-related factors such as "sleep quantity, quality, and regularity," the total reached 30.6%, making it the largest single lifestyle domain. This result suggests that many people perceive sleep not just as a single action but as a comprehensive foundation for life, encompassing quantity, quality, and rhythm, and recognize it as a crucial factor that collectively impacts concentration, physical condition, and emotional stability.
《Survey Results》
The most influential factor is the combined factor of "sleep (quantity, quality, regularity)"
Commonalities and Differences in Perceived Daytime Changes from Good Sleep between Genders
An analysis was conducted to examine what changes good sleep brings to daytime physical and mental states and behaviors, broken down by gender. The most frequently cited change for both men and women was "waking up feeling refreshed," followed by "feeling physically well," "reduced frequency of feeling sleepy," "increased work efficiency," and "feeling mentally well." The composition of the top items was largely similar between genders. This suggests that the main effects of good sleep are common across genders, broadly contributing to improvements in daytime wakefulness, physical condition, cognitive performance, and psychological state.
《Survey Results》
Common across genders, but perceived more strongly by women
BrainSleep can provide various information regarding this survey. Please contact us if you wish to use it.
*When using the content of this survey, please be sure to cite "Sleep Deviation Value® surveyed by BrainSleep" as the source.
【Survey Outline】
Survey Method: Web survey
Target Region: Nationwide
Target Audience: Men and women
Sample Size: n=10,000ss
Survey Period: January 2026
*For comparisons of sleep deviation values and scores between groups, one-way ANOVA or t-tests were conducted, and a significance level of 5% or less was determined as a statistically significant difference.
*The survey was conducted with some changes in the target audience and survey items compared to last year.
The results of this year's Sleep Deviation Value once again demonstrate the "interrelationship between sleep quality and social structure" that we have been pointing out for many years. The return to the office after the COVID-19 pandemic is one factor contributing to the renewed shortening of average sleep duration, and the correlation between later bedtimes and increased overtime hours indicates that social factors largely influence the improvement of sleep hygiene, which cannot be resolved by individual effort alone. On the other hand, the high sleep literacy and willingness to invest in sleep seen in people in their 20s offer hope and suggest the possibility of improving overall societal sleep through intergenerational learning.
The important thing is not simply to aim for "sleeping longer," but to simultaneously ensure appropriate sleep duration, regularity, and quality. Companies and governments should seriously consider redesigning commuting and working hours and implementing sleep support measures in the workplace. We researchers need to verify specific interventions based on evidence, and in conjunction with this, we intend to conduct detailed analyses by region, industry, and work style to make our recommendations more concrete. Sleep is a crucial social capital that directly links not only to individual health but also to the productivity and happiness of companies and nations.