Asahi: Talking doll lulls stress out of insomniacs
Some insomniacs will try anything to nod off-even cuddling up with a talking boy doll that lulls them to sleep. The Oyasumi Yumel (Good night Yumel) doll has a vocabulary of phrases, such as "You're working too hard, aren't you?" designed to help keep stressed-out people on a schedule so they can relax and fall asleep.
The 34-centimeter Yumel was jointly developed by bedding maker Lofty Co. and toy maker Tomy Co. He hit stores in October. Yumel has a built-in timer and can be set to wake up and go to sleep according to the owner's preferences. He also offers little reminders to keep his owner on schedule, such as asking about four hours before bedtime, "Are you eating supper now?" That's followed by "Have you taken a bath?" about an hour before the projected bedtime.
"People use aromatherapy or music for relaxation, but many people don't think about the rhythms of life, such as regular meals and bathing," said Naomi Adachi, who is vice chief of Lofty Sleep Research Institute. "We want people to be more aware that regular sleep is important."...And when things become too much for Yumel, he will simply take a nap himself.
Even at a price of 12,800 yen-which includes a pillow and pajamas-more than 5,000 Oyasumi Yumel sets have been sold. He's especially popular with older women.
