Daisuke Hori, a self-proclaimed “short sleeper,” has garnered attention through the media, books, and high-priced information products by promoting his unique theory that “you can function healthily on just 30 minutes of sleep a day.”Although he appears to have been promoting his “Ultra-Short Sleep Method”
for many years, in recent years he has faced criticism and suspicion online and on social media, with people questioning whether it is a “scam” or if there are “problems with his business model.”
In this article, I’d like to explain the true nature of the information products Mr. Hori is selling, the contradictions revealed during his live stream, and the background behind the series of controversies.
- Who Is Daisuke Hori, the Self-Proclaimed “Short Sleeper”?
- A contradiction with the “sound sleep” revealed during the live stream
- “Not Working” and “Constantly Fighting Sleepiness”: The Real Situation
- Issues Surrounding High-Priced Information Products
- Emerging Allegations of Investment Solicitation and Legal Risks
- A Summary of Why It’s Being Whispered About Online as a “Scam”
Who Is Daisuke Hori, the Self-Proclaimed “Short Sleeper”?
Daisuke Hori is a figure who has served as the representative of organizations such as the Japan Short Sleepers Association (a general incorporated association) and has advocated a method that claims “people can live their daily lives without a decline in performance on just 30 minutes to a few hours of sleep per day.”He has raised his profile through books such as *High Achievers Sleep Very Little!
* and media appearances, and has built his following by targeting people struggling with sleep, business professionals seeking to make the most of their time, and students.
However, experts have consistently raised doubts about these extreme claims, which disregard human physiology, stating that they “lack scientific basis and pose a risk of causing health problems.”
A contradiction with the “sound sleep” revealed during the live stream
A “one-week (24-hour) continuous live stream” conducted to verify the effectiveness of the method has caused quite a stir online.
This is because the method’s proponent was caught on camera falling asleep completely unguarded during the broadcast.
- Falling Asleep and Snoring
During a Head Massage: The patient lost consciousness for approximately 27 minutes during the treatment, and the live broadcast showed him snoring as he slept deeply. - The flimsy excuse
of “microsleep”: Although he insisted, “I didn’t sleep for 27 minutes; I just had 10 episodes of ‘microsleep’ lasting from a few seconds to several dozen seconds each,” his explanation lacked objective consistency and ended up drawing derisive laughter.
When they were flooded with criticism over changing the rules after the fact, they suddenly added a rule stating, “In addition to the 30-minute main sleep period, naps are allowed.” This completely undermined their credibility.
“Not Working” and “Constantly Fighting Sleepiness”: The Real Situation
While it claims that “ultra-short sleep increases free time and dramatically boosts productivity,” what the live stream revealed was far from that ideal.
- Extreme Fatigue and Bloodshot Eyes: My eyes became red and bloodshot starting on the second day of the
livestream, and by the third day, they were in such bad shape that I had no choice but to wear sunglasses. - Reportedly, after losing his composure and snapping
back at viewers who expressed concern for his health, he couldn’t hide his frustration—he reportedly slammed a piece of workout equipment down and became emotional, asking, “Could you please stop telling me I should go to sleep?” - As the veneer of the “highly productive superhuman” began to crack—with the person
constantly battling drowsiness and fatigue, which led to a decline in performance—it served as proof that the sales pitch was false.
Issues Surrounding High-Priced Information Products
Mr. Hori’s main source of income appears to be high-priced information products he offers, such as his “Sleep Improvement Program” and “Ultra-Short Sleep Course.” The tuition fees amount to 150,000 to 160,000 yen or more
over a few months, and the program also involves ongoing fees; as a result, it has been criticized online as a “high-priced seminar business that preys on the informationally vulnerable.”
Furthermore, when confronted about these contradictions during live streams—such as through Super Chat tips—their tendency to avoid giving clear explanations and ignore questions only served to further fuel distrust.
Emerging Allegations of Investment Solicitation and Legal Risks
Beyond doubts about the sleep method itself, financial disputes and allegations of investment solicitation involving students have also surfaced in recent years.
According to media reports and allegations on social media, he is suspected of attempting to solicit funds from students under the guise of investments such as FX trading, as well as of sending mass emails recommending investments to the general public.Soliciting investments
without proper registration may violate the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and the Investment Act, and there are growing concerns that these actions “may constitute illegal activities that go beyond the scope of information products.”
A Summary of Why It’s Being Whispered About Online as a “Scam”
| Points of Concern | Main Content |
| Lack of Scientific Evidence and the Collapse of the Reputation | While promoting the idea of sleeping for 30 minutes a day, they took naps and even fell fast asleep during live streams, exposing the contradiction in their message. |
| Chronic Sleep Deprivation | Constantly battling drowsiness and taking out his frustration on viewers, his behavior stands in stark contrast to his claim that “life becomes richer.” |
| High-Priced Product Business | Selling an unproven, proprietary method for a high tuition fee of over 150,000 yen within a few months. |
| Allegations of Illegal Investment Solicitation | There have been a series of allegations of illegal fundraising and soliciting investments through student communities. |
Tactics that use “sleep”—the foundation of human physical and mental health—as a selling point and try to convince people to adopt extreme lifestyles can lead to serious health problems and financial losses. When faced with information products and seminars that tout
sweet promises and impressive titles, it is essential to have the discernment to take a level-headed look at the reality of the situation.
