The practice of inemuri (napping while remaining present) has won the support of British sleep experts, The Japan Times reported on 18 June.
While accepted in Japan as a sign the person has been working hard and needs rest, napping tends to be viewed negatively in the UK.
However, Dr Robert Meadows, a senior lecturer at the University of Surrey, said some experts are now asking whether British firms should allow staff to take naps, particularly after lunch when efficiency is usually low.