The smart coat that uses light and sound to help you sleep, no matter where you are

Japan is among the countries with the greatest sleep deficit in the world. Various international studies and surveys on the duration and quality of rest place this Asian powerhouse at the bottom, with sleep averages significantly below the recommended limit.

For this reason, the Japanese design firm Konel teamed up with the sleep technology division of NTT DX Partners, a digital consulting firm, to develop this innovative project.

It's a smart coat designed to optimize naps through personalized sound and lighting that adapt to each user's biometric data.

The coat includes a ring that collects information such as the user's heart rate, body temperature, and movement, allowing them to customize their sleep experience.

In an interview with the American media outlet CNN , Dai Miyata, the company's artistic and creative director, noted that he understood that sleep is a deeply personal experience.

"You can't force someone to sleep; each person has to fall asleep on their own. So we started asking ourselves: Can we create something that helps people sleep their way?" he explained.

The jacket is designed to be worn daily as an oversized garment. However, users can activate "sleep mode" by simply pulling up the hood, allowing them to rest while on the go, for example, on the way home.

Although it is still in the concept phase and is not intended as a mass-market product, a model of the coat will be unveiled on July 7 at the Osaka technology expo .

The concept has already been showcased at trade shows in both Europe and Asia , where it has garnered attention for its innovative fusion of fashion and leisure.

Production costs have not been revealed yet , confirming that the project is still in a very early stage of development and prototyping.

Konel began developing this project in 2025, in partnership with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. Although several prototypes were created, none were successful in generating significant changes in sleep quality.

That's why, according to Teppei Ogata, production director of NTT DX Partners' sleep technology division, they decided to take a more creative and playful approach . Thus, the concept of "wearable sleep" was born, which became the basis for the smart coat's design.

The coat's design is inspired by the Yogi, an ancient Japanese kimono worn for sleeping . This garment was common in Japanese society during the Edo period, which lasted from 1615 to 1868. "It's more like something you can sleep in and then get up and go out," Miyata explained. Ogata, for his part, noted that it's "a fusion of clothing and bedclothes."

The coat features an integrated system that converts biometric data into light and sound stimuli . It incorporates a red light designed to increase melatonin levels in the body and emits specific frequencies that act on brain waves to facilitate sleep.

According to the specialized portal DesignBoom , some studies have shown that music and sounds with certain frequencies can contribute to improving the quality of sleep , although this effect still requires more in-depth research to be fully confirmed.

The biometric ring also monitors the user's stress levels as they enter sleep . "If the stress level drops significantly, the same light and sound remain the same. But if stress persists, the system automatically adjusts the stimuli and plays sounds that are even more effective at inducing sleep," Ogata explained during the interview.

Japan isn't the only country facing sleep-related problems. Singapore and South Korea also report worrying levels of sleep deprivation .

Even in the United States, sleep disorders are a growing concern. According to a study published in the scientific journal PNAS, 15% of the American population does not achieve their ideal sleep duration.

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