Tokyo: As record-breaking summer temperatures continue to grip Japan, the country has introduced an innovative cooling solution a human-sized refrigerator designed to help people recover quickly from heat exhaustion and prevent heatstroke. Called the Do Hiemon Box, the one-person cooling booth is already being deployed at construction sites, factories, universities and public facilities as Japan battles increasingly severe heatwaves.
Developed by Japanese refrigeration manufacturer SDRS and marketed by industrial equipment supplier Trusco Nakayama, the booth has attracted attention worldwide for its unusual yet practical approach to protecting people from extreme heat.
A refrigerator designed for people
Unlike a conventional refrigerator, the Do Hiemon Box is specifically designed to cool the human body rapidly.
The stainless-steel booth, roughly the size of a vending machine, contains a built-in seat where a person can sit while chilled air is directed towards the head, neck, shoulders and back. Once the glass door is closed, the interior remains at around 15°C, while 5°C air is blown onto the user to provide quick relief from high temperatures.
Built to prevent heatstroke
According to the manufacturers, users begin to feel noticeably cooler within about five minutes, while spending around 10 minutes inside can help reduce symptoms of heat exhaustion.
The system automatically switches off after 20 minutes to prevent overcooling and offers multiple airflow settings depending on the user’s needs. Rather than serving as a place to relax, the booth has been designed as emergency cooling equipment for people exposed to intense heat.
Designed for workplaces and public spaces
The Do Hiemon Box is primarily intended for locations where people spend long hours working outdoors or in high-temperature environments.
Construction sites, steel plants, warehouses, factories, golf courses, universities and outdoor event venues are among the first facilities to adopt the cooling booths. The unit runs on a standard electrical connection, requires no permanent installation and is mounted on wheels for easy movement.
Japan’s extreme heat drives innovation
Japan has been experiencing increasingly intense summers, with temperatures regularly crossing 35°C and heatstroke cases rising sharply.
The country’s weather agency has introduced new terminology for exceptionally hot days, while authorities routinely issue heatstroke warnings during summer. Rising temperatures have prompted businesses to develop innovative cooling technologies to protect workers and the public.
Demand growing at home and abroad
Trusco Nakayama has already sold around 200 units of the Do Hiemon Box since its launch earlier this year.
The company says it has received enquiries from overseas, including Germany and the United States, as governments and businesses explore new ways to cope with increasingly frequent heatwaves. A standard unit costs approximately 1.5 million yen (around USD 9,500), making it primarily suitable for organisations rather than individual consumers.
Could become more common
With climate change contributing to hotter summers across many parts of the world, the company believes such cooling booths could eventually become common in shopping malls, transport hubs, workplaces and public spaces.
As governments strengthen workplace safety rules related to heat exposure, demand for rapid body-cooling systems is expected to increase further.
Conclusion
Japan’s Do Hiemon Box represents an innovative response to rising global temperatures, offering people a quick way to cool down and reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses. While currently aimed at businesses and public institutions, the human-sized refrigerator reflects how countries are increasingly turning to technology to adapt to the growing challenge of extreme heat.