Photo/Illutration The unveiling of the vertical sleeping pod called “Giraffenap” in Sapporo’s Chuo Ward in August (Satoshi Shinden)

SAPPORO--The sight of Japanese catnapping on trains or slumped over their desks during office hours is hardly surprising, given the country’s reputation for long work hours.

Now, a company in northern Japan has come up with a novel product for those trying to catch 40 winks on the fly: a vertical sleeping pod.

“Giraffenap” is the creation of Koyoju Plywood Corp. based in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. The cylindrical device can be set up in an office, or anywhere else for that matter, as a single unit occupies the space of only two tatami mats (about 3.2 square meters).

It enables users to snooze standing up, just like a giraffe.

The pods come in two designs: a futuristic spaceship version dubbed “Spacia” and the more rustic “Forest,” made with Japanese larch timber from the nation’s northernmost main island and non-woven fabrics to achieve a warm texture.

The cocoon-like contraptions will carry a price tag of around 3 million yen ($20,300) each and are set for release this winter, either in late December or January.

But at just 2.5 meters high and 1.2 meters in diameter, claustrophobes might want to opt for the office sofa or rest their head on their desk the old-fashioned way. The booths weigh between 270 and 320 kilograms.

Equipped with padded ledges to support the soles of the feet, shins, waist and head, Giraffenap allows the user to take a “power nap” in an upright position.

This posture exerts less stress on the waist compared with being slumped face down on a desk, allowing the user to take a moderately deep sleep, according to the company.

The Spacia model is designed to substantially block sound and light, while the Forest lets in sufficient light and sound for those who feel uncomfortable in an enclosed space.

Both types are installed with a power outlet to charge a smartphone or other electronic devices.

Koyoju Plywood came up with the project after it learned about a patent for an upright sleeping pod held by Tokyo-based office furniture supplier Itoki Corp. during a business matching event organized by North Pacific Bank in 2021.

“We wanted to develop a unique product,” Koyoju Plywood’s president, Hironari Yamaguchi, told a news conference. “We hope it to be used by companies that aim to maximize their business performance by actively allowing workers to take a nap.”

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