Japan unveils 'human refrigerator' to combat extreme summer heat

A company in Japan's Gunma Prefecture has introduced a cooling booth known as the "Do Hiemon Box", or the "human refrigerator", to help people cope with rising summer temperatures.

The single-person cooling booth is designed to protect outdoor workers, factory employees and the public from heatstroke as Japan continues to experience more frequent and intense heatwaves.

The compact unit, which resembles a vending machine or telephone box, has been installed in the lobby of Maebashi City Hall.

Inside, users sit on a built-in bench while adjustable nozzles direct air cooled to 5°C towards the head, neck and shoulders. The booth itself is maintained at about 15°C and automatically switches off after 20 minutes to prevent users from becoming too cold.

Katsutoshi Yagihara, Deputy Chief of the Policy Coordination Unit in the Future Creation Department of Maebashi City, said more people had started using the booth as temperatures increased.

"While the number of users was low initially, usage has risen to over 30 people per day recently as the weather has warmed up," he explained.

The booth is built from sheet metal, mounted on caster wheels and can be moved between workplaces and public spaces. A refrigeration compressor at its base generates the cold air, while insulated walls help keep the temperature stable.

Resident Yuri said the cooling system provided immediate relief.

"The air blows from around the neck area, and the breeze isn’t uncomfortably cold. Since cooling the neck and limbs is said to lower body temperature, it felt incredibly cool and refreshing," Yuri said.

Another resident described the growing challenge posed by Japan's summers.

"The heat is really getting intense now, isn’t it? It’s not just the humidity; there are days when the temperature climbs close to 40 degrees. Dealing with that kind of heat is a real struggle every year," the resident said.

Japan regularly records summer temperatures above 35°C, with some regions approaching 40°C. The Japan Meteorological Agency refers to days reaching 40°C or higher as "kokushobi", meaning "cruelly hot days."