Japanese Refrigerator Manufacturer SDRS Introduces Portable “Human Refrigerator” to Combat Rising Temperatures
With the intensification of global warming, temperatures around the world are rising year by year, and Japan in East Asia is no exception. Many parts of the country have been continuously breaking temperature records, with the national high exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in recent days. Just on July 15th, 48 people in Tokyo were hospitalized due to heatstroke.
In response to Japan’s increasingly hot summer temperatures, SDRS has introduced a cooling cabinet called “Do Hiemon Box.” Standing at approximately 2 meters high, the size is roughly equivalent to a standard Japanese vending machine, with the capacity to accommodate one person at a time.
The design of this “human refrigerator” draws inspiration from the common vending machines found throughout Japan. The internal temperature is maintained at 15 degrees Celsius, providing a cool sensation upon entry. When seated on the built-in chair, a stream of air cooled to around 5 degrees Celsius will blow towards your head, neck, shoulders, and back, enveloping you in instant coolness and comfort.
This equipment offers three airflow and cooling settings, automatically shutting off after 20 minutes of operation to prevent excessive cooling, and consumes only about half the electricity of a regular air conditioner. It requires no installation and can be used indoors or outdoors, equipped with wheels for easy mobility according to needs.
SDRS claims that this cooling cabinet can alleviate heat exhaustion symptoms, with a faster cooling rate compared to air conditioning or electric fans. Users only need to stay in it for 10 minutes to quickly lower their body temperature.
The marketing of this cooling cabinet is handled by the industrial equipment supplier Trusco Nakayama, aimed at providing businesses and other public places with a solution for use during sweltering summer days, especially in outdoor work sites like construction zones.
The Maebashi City Government in Gunma Prefecture was gifted one of the first units, allowing the public to use it for free during office hours. If people from other regions wish to use it, they can consider purchasing one, priced at 1.5 million Japanese yen (approximately $9,163).
Although currently targeting businesses and institutions rather than households, if Japan’s summer temperatures continue to rise, this equipment may soon become a common facility in public places, perhaps even becoming as ubiquitous as vending machines on Japanese streets.
CNN reporter Hanako Montgomery recently experienced entering the “human refrigerator” to enjoy the refreshing coolness. She remarked, “So cool. Please let me stay here during the summer months.”
Apart from the mentioned “human refrigerator,” Japanese people also use other cooling gadgets to combat high temperatures, such as cooling spray, cool wet wipes, chilled neck collars, cooling sun umbrellas, handheld fans, each with its own unique and clever features.