A Japanese refrigeration manufacturer has unveiled a compact walk-in cooling booth it describes as a “human refrigerator.” Designed for rapid relief from extreme heat, the unit is already being installed in public venues across the country.
A vending machine-inspired design
The Do Hiemon Box, developed by SDRS and distributed by industrial equipment supplier Trusco Nakayama, takes its visual cues from Japan’s widely recognized vending machines. It shares a similar footprint and silhouette: the booth stands 2,029 mm tall and 931 mm wide, weighs 293 kg, and sits on wheels. Because it requires no fixed installation, the unit can be moved and deployed indoors or outdoors with minimal effort.
How the booth delivers rapid cooling
Inside, the ambient temperature is held at a steady 15°C. A built-in chair positions the occupant so that chilled air—around 5°C—blows directly onto the head, neck, shoulders, and back simultaneously. Three adjustable airflow and cooling settings are available, and a 20-minute automatic shut-off prevents overcooling. SDRS reports that users feel noticeably cooler within just five minutes and that a ten-minute session may alleviate heat exhaustion symptoms by bringing down core body temperature quickly. Power consumption is roughly half that of a typical spot air conditioner.
Market timing and public rollout
The Do Hiemon Box went on sale in April, priced at ¥1.5 million (approximately $9,230) before tax. The company expects organizations and businesses—rather than individual consumers—to be the primary buyers. One unit has already been donated to Maebashi City Hall in Gunma Prefecture.
The launch arrives as Japan contends with intensifying summer conditions. Authorities recently introduced official terminology for days surpassing 40°C, and on July 15 alone, 48 people in Tokyo required hospital treatment for heatstroke. In this climate, easily deployable personal cooling stations may become a more common sight in municipal buildings, transport hubs, and commercial facilities.
Source: soranews24.com