Japan unveils human refrigerator to cool you down in minutes in summer heat

Japan has unveiled the Do Hiemon Box, a one-person "human refrigerator" that lowers body temperature in minutes, offering quick relief for workers battling scorching summer heat and rising heatstroke risks.Japan has unveiled a one-person cooling booth designed to help people beat extreme summer heat in minutes. (Photo/ TRUSCO YouTube)If you've ever opened your refrigerator, put your head inside and wished you could step into it on a sweltering summer afternoon, Japan has turned that idea into a real device. As the country is battling another summer of extreme heat, a Japanese company has unveiled what it calls a "human refrigerator”, a one-person cooling booth designed to quickly lower body temperature and help prevent heat-related illnesses.Called the Do Hiemon Box, the futuristic-looking booth has been developed by Japanese refrigeration and vending machine manufacturer SDRS and is sold by industrial equipment supplier Trusco Nakayama. It looks like a compact metal cabin with a glass door, but instead of storing food, it's built to cool down people.How the human refrigerator worksAccording to an official video released by the company, the device looks like a compact metal cabin with a transparent glass door and a built-in seat. Step inside the booth, take a seat, close the door, and let the cold air do the work. The cabin stays at around 15 degrees Celsius, while 5-degree Celsius chilled air is blown directly at your head, neck, shoulders and back. According to the company, users start feeling noticeably cooler within about five minutes, while a 10-minute session can help reduce body temperature and ease the symptoms of heat exhaustion.The booth also offers three cooling modes and automatically switches off after 20 minutes to prevent users from getting too cold. According to the company, the Do Hiemon Box is aimed at people who spend hours working outdoors or in hot environments, including construction workers, factory employees, warehouse staff and people working at outdoor events. The booth doesn't require permanent installation, can be used both indoors and outdoors, and even comes with wheels so it can be moved wherever it's needed.The cooling booth also consumes around half the electricity of a standard spot air conditioner, making it a relatively energy-efficient way to provide quick relief from extreme heat.The idea feels as though it's come straight out of Doraemon's pocket. But it's not meant for homes. Instead, the Do Hiemon Box is designed primarily for businesses, factories, warehouses and construction sites rather than individual buyers. And that makes sense because all this cooling technology doesn't come cheap. The standard Do Hiemon Box is priced at 1.5 million yen (around Rs 8.8 lakh).- EndsPublished By: Divya BhatiPublished On: Jul 27, 2026 18:02 IST