Originally unveiled at Milan Fashion Week in April, Konel's ZZZN smart puffer jacket was showcased at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, which ran from 13/4 to 13/10. This marked Osaka's second time hosting the World Expo, the first being Expo 1970.

Visitors to the expo could try the smart coat, which features a deep hood for privacy and an integrated system that translates the wearer's biometric data into light and sound.

Dai Miyata, Konel's creative art director, explained that the company collaborated with the Sleep Tech department at NTT DX Partners, a digital consulting firm. "We realized sleep is a private matter. You can't force someone to sleep; they have to fall asleep on their own. So, we started thinking, could we create something to help people easily fall asleep in their own way?", he told CNN.

The ZZZN smart coat allows for naps anytime, anywhere. Photo: Yusuke Maekawa

The ZZZN smart coat allows for naps anytime, anywhere. Photo: Yusuke Maekawa

The oversized ZZZN takes inspiration from the "yogi," a type of quilted kimono popular during the Edo period (1615-1868) and worn during winter sleep. "It's like a combination of clothing and bedding," Miyata said. Designed for everyday wear as a regular jacket, the ZZZN's "sleep mode" activates when the user puts up the hood.

The device uses red light to induce drowsiness and blue light to suppress melatonin and awaken the body. The light pulsates at a frequency that simulates slow breathing to promote deeper sleep, accompanied by "neuro music" at frequencies that "directly affect brain waves," Minyata added. Some preliminary studies have found that music or sounds at certain frequencies can improve sleep.

The biometric component also monitors the wearer's stress levels as they fall asleep. "If the wearer's stress levels decrease significantly, the light and sound are maintained. But if there's not much reduction, the system switches to more effective sounds," Miyata explained.

Made from light and warm Kodenshi fiber, the hooded coat is equipped with lights and sound devices to help the wearer fall asleep easily. Photo: Yusuke Maekawa

Made from light and warm Kodenshi fiber, the hooded coat is equipped with lights and sound devices to help the wearer fall asleep easily. Photo: Yusuke Maekawa

Konel began developing the jacket last year with funding from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. The project is part of a program to transform personal healthcare data into useful services and products.

Teppei Ogata, production director of NTT DX Partners' Sleep Tech department, told CNN, "Japan is one of the most sleep-deprived nations, so we've been thinking about how to address this issue through business initiatives."

Ogata noted that the company's previous efforts didn't lead to significant behavioral changes, prompting them to adopt a "fun and creative" approach with the concept of "portable sleep."

Hoa Mi (via CNN)