Japan Launches Human Refrigerator for Respite in the Heatwave
The summer of 2026 is proving to be hotter than usual. With multiple heatwaves going on across the world, staying cool and safe from heatstroke has become rather difficult. You can stay indoors with the AC on, or you can sit inside the fridge. Well, that is what Japan wants you to do with its Do Hiemon Box, a human refrigerator that is designed to tackle oppressive heat.
It is developed by Japanese refrigeration and vending machine manufacturer SDRS and sold by industrial equipment supplier Trusco Nakayama. The Do Hiemon Box is essentially a cooling booth that resembles a giant refrigerator, but is designed to cool the human body.
Let’s talk about how it actually cools your body. The Do Hiemon Box offers three airflow and cooling settings. The booth maintains an interior temperature of 15 degrees Celsius to start cooling your body from the moment you step inside. It has a built-in chair for you to sit. The booth directs chilled air at around 5 degrees Celsius, blowing onto your head, neck, shoulders, and back – parts that usually sweat profusely – to give instant cooling relief.
According to the company, you feel noticeably cooler within five minutes inside the booth. After about 10 minutes, the symptoms of heat exhaustion may ease as your body temperature lowers rapidly.
While many may doubt the efficiency of this odd invention, this can actually come in handy for people who work in hot environments. People on construction sites, in factories, warehouses, and outdoor event venues where temperatures spike on particularly hot days can greatly benefit from this human refrigerator.
The booth automatically switches off after 20 minutes to help prevent overcooling. It consumes roughly half the power of a typical spot AC unit. Best of all, it doesn’t need installation and can be used indoors and outdoors. Mounted on wheels, it can be moved around where needed.
Amid rampant global warming and Japan introducing new terminology for days when temperatures reach over 40 degrees Celsius – called kokushobi, or cruelly hot day- the human refrigerator seems like a godsend. The Do Hiemon Box is currently on sale in Japan through industrial equipment distributors. The standard model is retailing at 1.5 million yen (roughly $9,100) plus tax.
Currently aimed at businesses and organizations rather than residential use, the human refrigerator could be a useful addition to public spaces. However, if temperatures keep soaring, soon the Do Hiemon Box human refrigerator will become a common fixture in homes as well.
Via: Japan Today
