{
  "id": 229119,
  "title": "Heatwaves are getting so bad you can buy this portable 'human fridge' in Japan to save you from heatstroke —and it'll blast you with 41F air",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/heatwaves-are-getting-so-bad-you-can-buy-this-portable-human-fridge",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-06T16:39:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/home/air-quality/heatwaves-are-getting-so-bad-you-can-buy-this-portable-human-fridge-in-japan-to-save-you-from-heatstroke-and-itll-blast-you-with-41f-air"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A portable cooling device, known as the Do Hiemon Box, is gaining popularity in Japan as temperatures soar. Trusco Nakayama manufactures the portable \"human fridge,\" which cools its occupants to a temperature of 5°C (41°F) for a 20-minute period. The box is being installed at construction sites, golf courses, leisure facilities, and university campuses across the country, with a few hundred units already sold since its launch earlier this year. The device utilizes standard electrical outlets and costs approximately $9,480, making it an expensive solution for temporary relief from the heat. Although the idea is to provide quick protection against heat exhaustion and heatstroke, the device is not intended for long-term use or as a replacement for air conditioning in homes. The demand for the Do Hiemon Box has extended beyond Japan's borders, with inquiries coming from Germany and the United States. As climate change continues to intensify, it is expected that more of these cooling machines will become available, particularly at summer festivals and shopping malls where people seek refuge from extreme heat. Such developments may serve as a grim reminder of the repercussions of climate change, with no foreseeable solution in sight.",
  "summary": "So it's come to this: a portable cooling box for use in warehouses, on construction sites, and on campuses.",
  "key_points": [
    "Do Hiemon Box cools occupants to 5°C (41°F) for 20 minutes",
    "Installed at construction sites, golf courses, and university campuses",
    "Demand extends to Germany and the United States"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The emergence of the Do Hiemon Box in Japan signals a shift towards novel, if costly, personal cooling solutions as a direct response to intensifying heatwaves and climate change impacts.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}