Japan's 'human fridges' offer cool respite amid punishing summer heat

In Japan's punishing summer heat, warehouse worker Isao Tabuchi found relief in his company's newest acquisition: a refrigerator for humans. The phonebooth-sized machine, known as the Do Hiemon Box, delivers jets of chilled air for ice-cold comfort and has proven popular as temperatures rise.

Trusco Nakayama, an industrial equipment distributor based in Tokyo, has sold over 300 units of the Do Hiemon Box since April. Priced at 1.5 million yen (US$9,400), the cooling boxes are being used at construction sites, factories, and warehouses. Sales agent China Yamamoto mentioned potential future customers include golf courses and baseball stadiums.

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I was really able to recover thanks to that. Once you use it, it's very, very cool.

Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme heat events to human-induced climate change. Japan experienced its hottest summer on record in 2025, and this year, the weather office introduced the term "kokushobi," or "cruelly hot day," for temperatures reaching 40°C. The extreme heat has had a tangible impact on businesses, with a July survey by Teikoku Databank revealing that 50 percent of companies reported disruptions due to intense heat. In response, Japanese businesses face tougher legal requirements to protect employees working in the heat, including providing specialized clothing, air-conditioned break rooms, and shaded areas.

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It's large, it's expensive, and it's not the kind of product where you can just explain it in words and have customers say, 'Okay, let's buy one.' So there were a lot of uncertainties.