Posted on 08/13/2026 7:56:53 AM PDT by BenLurkin
As Japan endures another summer of oppressive heat waves, innovative technology and extreme cooling solutions are taking centre stage. On July 23, CNN's correspondent Hanako Montgomery shared a hands-on look at a new gadget tested in Tokyo: a human-sized, glass-doored portable refrigerator designed to give people a brief respite from sweltering outdoor temperatures.
In the Instagram video, stepping inside the freestanding metallic cabin, she took a seat on a built-in bench as the glass door shut behind her. "Oh, it is chilly," she remarked as the unit rapidly dropped the surrounding temperature, adding, “This isn't a fridge for food. It's a fridge for people who are battling extreme heat as Japan faces another brutal summer. Please leave me here during the summer months.
As detailed in a July 20 report by Japan Today, the unusual invention is called the 'Do Hiemon Box'. Developed by Japanese refrigeration and vending machine manufacturer SDRS and distributed by industrial equipment supplier Trusco Nakayama, the design was directly inspired by the ubiquitous refrigerated vending machines found throughout Japan.
The booth reportedly maintains a steady interior temperature of 15°C, and once seated, chilled air at roughly 5°C is blown directly toward the head, neck, shoulders, and back, rapidly lowering body temperature. Japan Today added that users feel noticeably cooler within about 5 minutes, while a 10-minute session can help relieve symptoms of heat exhaustion. An automatic 20-minute shutoff timer prevents overcooling.
Currently aimed at businesses, construction sites, factories, and outdoor venues rather than home users, the standard model reportedly carries a price tag of 1.5 million yen (plus tax), approximately ₹8,86,300 (plus tax).
(Excerpt) Read more at hindustantimes.com ...
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Cool!
J*p in a box
$10,000 for a closet that stays at 59 degrees F.
Does not excite me.
Phoenix has misting systems so you don’t have to sit in a box.
Kids have been playing in old refigerators and frezzers for years and years. Yoiu could go inside them and shut the door and then your firnds on the outside would let you out later. Those things were sturdy and pretty soundproof too.
That’s pretty dark.
Why not just soak in a cold bath to bring down your body heat? Water has much higher impact on body temp than air.
That is why 110 degree water feels so much hotter than 110 degree air. 110 degree water is scaldingly hot.
Fridge full of cold air. Dumb.
Soak in a cold bath. Simple, cheap, effective, smart.
Too easy, but still a good one.
It’s an effin refrigerator with a seat on wheels.
They only cost $2,500 USD
No wonder Japan is aging out...
I hadn’t realized how dangerous those old fridges and freezers could be. Apparently quite a few kids got inside and couldn’t open the door back up on their ow.
You could also die in them.
I want one, no I want two.
Scrapped refrigerators and freezers are supposed to be modified / broken so the doors cannot shut.
If I’m not mistaken these newer fridge doors can be pushed open from inside.
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