AC vests and UV parasols: East Asia deploys heat-fighting gadgets
East Asia's summers are becoming hotter and longer, and such "personal cooling" has become a ubiquitous part of daily life.
In East Asia, the recent deadly heat wave has prompted the deployment of innovative gadgets designed to combat the scorching temperatures. Tokyo's streets showcase handheld fans resembling high-tech devices, with one popular model being the light-blue one held by Eimi Nakayama, a 20-year-old university student. This particular fan features a small metal plate that operates on the same principles as semiconductors, generating a cooling effect through electrical currents.
Nakayama explained that the sensation is akin to holding a cold drink against her neck, and the airflow is also slightly cooler due to the plate. This technology has gained popularity across East Asian cities, where authorities have taken notice of the extreme heat. In South Korea, baseball games have been canceled, and Japan has introduced a new meteorological term, "kokushobi," meaning "cruel heat day," to describe the intense heat experienced during this summer season.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
