Japan has introduced a new cooling solution designed to help workers cope with rising summer temperatures, with a one-person cooling booth being promoted as a “human refrigerator” for quick heat relief. The device, called the Do Hiemon Box, has been developed as extreme heat becomes an increasing challenge across the country. The booth is designed to rapidly lower body temperature and provide relief to people exposed to hot working environments.
The Do Hiemon Box was developed by Japanese refrigeration and vending machine manufacturer SDRS and is being sold by industrial equipment supplier Trusco Nakayama. Inspired by Japan’s refrigerated vending machines, the compact booth allows a single person to sit inside while chilled air is directed towards key areas of the body. The makers say the device can provide noticeable cooling within a few minutes.
The booth maintains an internal temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius and releases air cooled to approximately 5 degrees Celsius towards the user's head, neck, shoulders and back. According to the company, spending about 10 minutes inside the unit may help reduce symptoms associated with heat exhaustion by quickly lowering body temperature. The product is mainly targeted at workers in industries such as construction, factories, warehouses and outdoor event management.
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The Do Hiemon Box features three cooling and airflow settings and is programmed to automatically shut down after 20 minutes to prevent excessive cooling. The unit does not require permanent installation, can be used both indoors and outdoors, and comes equipped with wheels for easier transportation. The company also claims that the booth consumes about half the electricity used by a conventional spot air conditioner, making it a more efficient cooling option for workplaces.
The launch comes as Japan continues to experience increasingly severe summer heat, with temperatures frequently reaching dangerous levels. Authorities have reported a rise in heatstroke cases as the country faces prolonged periods of extreme weather. On July 15, several people in Tokyo were reportedly hospitalised due to heatstroke-related symptoms.
The Do Hiemon Box is currently available in Japan through industrial equipment distributors, with the standard model priced at 1.5 million yen excluding tax. Although the product is primarily aimed at businesses and organisations, its developers believe similar cooling booths could become more common in public areas if extreme heat conditions continue to worsen.
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