Japanese firm sells human-sized refrigerators to beat extreme summer heat

What it is about

Who published it, and when

How it spread - 8 original reports

1. Wed, 5 August 2026

   1 report
   • South China Morning Post05:09
     Japanese firm sells human-sized refrigerators to beat extreme summer heat

     The glass door closes, and a curtain of cool air spills over your head, neck and shoulders, delivering instant relief from the punishing summer heat. This is what it is like to chill in the Do Hiemon Box, an oversized stainless-steel refrigerator that looks big enough to fit a human being, because that is exactly what it is designed to do. Trusco Nakayama has sold about 200 of the 1.5 million yen (US$9,500) booths to steel mills, construction sites, golf courses, universities and leisure...

2. Wed, 12 August 2026

   1 report
   • BBC News World22:07first to report
     Why are 'human fridges' being sold in Japan?

     As Japan swelters through extreme summer heat, BBC Tokyo correspondent Kurumi Mori tries out a new way to cool down.

3. Thu, 13 August 2026

   1 report
   • outlookindia.com07:42
     Japan's 'Human Refrigerator': Vending Machine Maker Develops Cooling Booth To Beat Extreme Heat

     Japan's SDRS has developed the Do Hiemon Box, a human-sized cooling booth that can reach 5°C and is designed to help prevent heatstroke during extreme summers.

4. Mon, 17 August 2026

   1 report
   • Novinky (Czechia)07:07
     Sousloví „Běž se zchladit“ dostalo se vznikem lednice pro lidi úplně nový rozměr

     Na japonském trhu se objevila kuriózní lednice, která by ale mohla zákazníky v těchto parných dnech zaujmout. Je totiž určená pro lidi, kteří se do ní mohou zavřít a zchladit se, třeba během náročné práce v exteriéru v době, kdy je opravdu velké vedro.

5. Fri, 21 August 2026

   1 report
   • ANSA (Italy)17:45
     Giappone, ‘frigorifero umano’ rinfresca i lavoratori durante il caldo estivo

     Installato a Osaka assomiglia a una cabina telefonica, emette getti d'aria fredda a cinque gradi

6. Sat, 22 August 2026

   1 report
   • Al Jazeera English15:48
     Walk-In “Human Fridges” are Japan’s newest heatwave weapon

     Designed to stop heatstroke in its tracks, the "Do Hiemon Box" delivers rapid, targeted cooling during extreme weather.

7. Tue, 25 August 2026

   1 report
   • Channel News Asia02:23
     Cool Japan: Human fridge chills workers in extreme heat
8. Sun, 30 August 2026

   1 report
   • thestar.com.my18:00
     Japan makes a fridge for humans to chill workers during extreme heat

     The phonebooth-sized machine, where jets of chilled air ensure ice-cold comfort, only launched this year but has proved popular in a country that seems to be getting inexorably warmer.