Some Japanese companies appear to be embracing the wisdom of the old adage "sound sleep, sound mind," by letting their workers enjoy a short snooze during office hours.
At Okuta Corp., a housing renovation firm in the city of Saitama, for example, office workers are allowed to doze off for a 15-20 -minute spell during business hours.
Adopted in 2012 to make the workplace more comfortable, the siesta-like break took root after managers set an example by taking time off themselves to sleep. Now, around 30 percent of the company's employees have adopted the practice, and enjoy a nap three or four times a week.