Japan Launches 'Human Refrigerator' Personal Cooling Booth, Similar in Size to a Phone Booth, Internal Temperature Around 15°C
Japan has launched a personal cooling booth called the 'Human Refrigerator' aimed at alleviating extreme summer heat.
The device, sold by Trusco Nakayama and named Do Hiemon Box, is similar in size to a phone booth, with an internal temperature of about 15°C, and sprays 5°C cold air to the head and neck for rapid cooling. Priced at approximately 1.5 million yen, over 300 units have been sold since April, primarily for use at construction sites, factories, and warehouses.
The device can be plugged into a standard power source, is mobile on wheels, and automatically shuts off after 20 minutes to prevent excessive cooling. Workers report quick recovery and dry sweat after use.
Japan has seen increasing summer temperatures in recent years, leading to a rise in heatstroke and emergency cases, making such devices a new option for workplaces to cope with heatwaves.
Driven by events, extreme weather has increased demand for personal and temporary cooling devices, directing funds towards industrial cooling innovations. Beneficiaries include equipment manufacturers and high-temperature workplaces, while traditional air conditioning scenarios face pressure.
Source: Public Information
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Trusco Nakayama, as an industrial equipment distributor, has launched portable human cooling booths in response to Japan's record-breaking heat, filling the gap in areas without fixed air conditioning. The device design emphasizes quick relief rather than prolonged stay, suitable for physically demanding work scenarios.
On the capital front, the company is investing resources into specialized products for heatwaves, quickly deploying them through direct sales to factories and construction sites. The motivation is to capture the occupational health and productivity needs arising from climate change, extending cooling from building systems to personal mobile units.
Similar to cooling vests or portable air conditioners developed in other hot countries; currently, it is in a phase of hardware innovation driven by the normalization of heatwaves.
Essentially, this represents a technological substitution. Traditional space air conditioning is extending to personal rapid cooling devices, with the mechanism aimed at providing immediate physiological cooling for high-risk populations, reducing heatstroke risks and maintaining work continuity.
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