Now you might think that Inemuri is a freeing activity that subverts all rules and as such has none of its own, but that’s not quite the case.
The Japanese are very particular about manners. And have a strict code of etiquette for public napping too.
Not everybody is allowed to indulge in Inemuri. For example, if you’ve newly joined a company, your desk nap isn’t going to be accepted kindly. However, if you’re higher up the social ladder, you can sleep freely.
Also, if the meeting/class does not require your active participation, feel free to nap.
Lastly, as we mentioned before, Inemuri means being present while sleeping. Which further means that though you’ve journeyed off to dreamland, you should be able to come back to reality as soon as the situation demands. So, don’t expect to just slide off under the table and sleep. You have to be well-seated, snoozing in the guise of paying attention. Clever.