Japan has introduced a novel solution to combat extreme summer heat: the Do Hiemon Box, a one-person cooling booth that functions like a refrigerator for humans.
Developed by refrigeration and vending machine manufacturer SDRS and sold by industrial equipment supplier Trusco Nakayama, the booth maintains an interior temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius.
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Once a user sits on the built-in chair, chilled air at approximately 5 degrees Celsius is directed toward the head, neck, shoulders, and back.
The companies claim users feel noticeably cooler within five minutes, and spending about 10 minutes inside may help reduce body temperature and ease symptoms of heat exhaustion.
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The portable booth offers three cooling modes and automatically powers off after 20 minutes to prevent excessive cooling.
It runs on roughly half the electricity required by a conventional spot air conditioner, requires no installation, and is fitted with wheels for easy mobility.
The Do Hiemon Box is intended for construction sites, factories, warehouses, outdoor events, schools, shopping malls, and other places where people are regularly exposed to high temperatures.
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The launch comes as Japan experiences increasingly severe summers, with new terminology introduced for days exceeding 40 degrees Celsius and rising heatstroke cases prompting businesses to seek protective measures.
Currently available through industrial equipment distributors in Japan, the booth costs 1.5 million yen (about $9,230) before tax, making it a business-focused product.
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Earlier this year, one unit was donated to Maebashi City Hall, where visitors can use it free of charge during opening hours.
