Human Refrigerator: 'Dohimon Box' – A Japanese Invention to Combat Extreme Heat

After feeling dizzy and exhausted from cycling to work under Japan’s harsh summer heat, warehouse worker Isao Tabuchi turned to his company’s latest offering: a refrigerator designed for people. The unit is a phone-booth-sized device that blasts jets of refreshing cold air. Although it was launched only this year, it has seen strong demand in a country where temperatures continue to rise.

“I felt a great sense of refreshment thanks to this device. Once you use it, you feel an intensely cool breeze,” Tabuchi, 51, told Agence France-Presse in the industrial city of Higashi-Osaka, western Japan.

Tokyo-based industrial equipment distributor Trusco Nakayama announced that it had sold more than 300 units of the “Do Himon Box” since April 2026, at a price of 1.5 million yen ($9,400). Company sales representative Chiyomi Yamamoto said that among its customers were construction sites, factories, and warehouses, and confirmed that the company plans to expand its services to include golf courses in the future. Baseball fields may also show interest.

The “Do Himon Box” can serve as a first line of defense against the heat. According to the manufacturer, the device operates on a standard electrical outlet, is easy to move, and does not consume much energy. To prevent overuse, the unit automatically shuts off after 20 minutes of operation.