[Sleep Survey] About 46% 'Not Satisfied' with Cooling Bedding, About 97% 'Want to Use' Air Conditioner-Compatible Bedding: 350 Respondents Reveal a New Concept of 'Blankets that Sleep with the Air Conditioner'

GOKUMIN, a comprehensive bedding brand operated by KURUKURU Inc. (Headquarters: GINZA SIX 13F, 6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yasuhiro Sekizawa), conducted a 'Summer Air Conditioner and Sleep Awareness Survey' targeting 350 men and women in their 20s to 60s and older who own air conditioners. Among the survey respondents, 96.5% use air conditioners while sleeping in summer, and 96.9% answered that they 'would like to use summer bedding compatible with air conditioners.' This confirms a clear demand for summer bedding designed with air conditioner compatibility in mind, in an era where using air conditioners during summer sleep has become almost standard. This release introduces the survey results along with GOKUMIN's proposed new concept for summer bedding: 'Blankets that Sleep with the Air Conditioner.'

Background and Purpose of the Survey

In recent years, rising summer temperatures have made air conditioner use a daily routine, but summer bedding is still predominantly marketed based on 'cooling sensation.' This survey aims to clarify how air conditioner owners sleep and what they seek in summer bedding. By objectively capturing the elements required for summer bedding in the age of air conditioning through data, the survey aims to provide consumers with an opportunity to consider summer bedding that suits them, while also exploring the new approach to summer sleep that GOKUMIN aims for.

Survey Overview

Survey Method: Internet survey Survey Target: Men and women in their 20s to 60s and older who own air conditioners Survey Period: June 4, 2026 Sample Size: 350 people Survey Conducted by: KURUKURU Inc. (GOKUMIN survey)

Survey Results

The survey revealed that 96.5% of air conditioner owners use their AC while sleeping in summer, indicating that AC use during sleep has become commonplace. Meanwhile, while 'cooling sensation' topped the list of important factors when choosing summer bedding at 62.0%, 46.3% of respondents said they are 'not satisfied' with summer bedding marketed solely on 'cooling sensation,' highlighting the reality that cooling power alone is insufficient in modern summer sleep environments. Furthermore, 96.9% of respondents answered that they 'would like to use' summer bedding compatible with air conditioners, confirming a clear demand for summer bedding chosen based on compatibility with AC.

Q1: Do you use an air conditioner when sleeping in summer (June-August)? (Single answer) When asked about AC use during summer sleep, 61.1% said 'use every night' and 35.4% said 'use sometimes,' totaling 96.5% who use it. This suggests that it is increasingly difficult to get through summer nights without AC, and AC use during sleep has become routine.

Q2: What temperature do you set your air conditioner to? (Single answer) The most common AC temperature settings were '27-28°C' at 44.0% and '25-26°C' at 43.4%, together accounting for 87.4%. '24°C or lower' was 7.4%, and '29°C or higher' was only 5.1%, indicating that 25-28°C is the standard temperature range for summer sleep.

Q3: Are there any dissatisfactions you feel with summer bedding (e.g., towel blankets, light quilts)? (Multiple answers) The top complaints about modern summer bedding were 'poor breathability' at 26.3%, 'sticks to the skin' at 24.0%, and 'difficult to wash and dry' at 22.0%. Issues of stuffiness, skin stickiness, and maintenance hassle emerged as challenges for current summer bedding.

Q4: Can you be satisfied with summer sleep using summer bedding marketed solely for its 'cooling sensation'? (Single answer) When asked about satisfaction with 'cooling-only' summer bedding, 45.4% said 'somewhat satisfied' (the highest response), but 34.6% said 'somewhat dissatisfied' and 11.7% said 'dissatisfied,' totaling 46.3% who are not satisfied. Evaluation of cooling bedding is polarized, showing that nearly half have needs that cannot be met by cooling power alone.

Q5: What factors are important when choosing summer bedding? (Multiple answers) The most important factor was 'cooling sensation (contact coolness)' at 62.0%, followed by 'breathability' at 55.7%, 'ease of washing' at 49.4%, 'price' at 47.4%, 'lightness' at 42.9%, and 'good skin separation' at 37.1%. This indicates that while consumers seek 'coolness,' they equally value 'comfort' and 'ease of care' such as breathability, washability, and lightness.

Q6: Would you like to use summer bedding that is compatible with air conditioners? (Single answer) 49.4% said 'somewhat want to use' and 47.4% said 'want to use,' totaling 96.9% who expressed a desire to use AC-compatible summer bedding. Only 3.1% said they 'do not want to use it,' demonstrating a clear and significant demand for summer bedding chosen based on compatibility with air conditioners in today's world where AC use is routine.

These survey results reveal that in an era where AC use during summer sleep is nearly universal, consumers seek multifaceted elements such as breathability, ease of care, lightness, and good skin separation, while also desiring coolness. The overwhelming majority of 96.9% seeking 'AC-compatible summer bedding' indicates that the way people choose summer bedding is changing significantly. GOKUMIN believes that shifting the selection criteria from 'cooling power' to 'compatibility with air conditioners' is key to comfortable modern summer sleep.

The 'Blanket that Sleeps with the Air Conditioner' Option

As an example of a product meeting the 96.9% demand for 'AC-compatible summer bedding,' GOKUMIN introduces the 'Fuwatoro Crepe Kette,' a CICA-infused summer blanket on sale since June 2024. With the product concept of 'cool, moist, stress-free,' it is designed to provide a comfortable feel against the skin in an air-conditioned sleep environment.

'Fuwatoro Crepe Kette' [Price] 8,298 yen (tax included) (*) [Size] Width 140cm x Depth 190cm [Colors] Ivory, Charcoal Gray [Official EC] https://gokumin.co.jp/products/g-hkf-s-cgy *Product price is subject to change.

Series cumulative sales: 2 million units. What is 'GOKUMIN'?

Because sleeping is the beginning of a happy day. GOKUMIN, a bedding brand originating in Japan, offers high-quality bedding at affordable prices.