{
  "id": 3164303,
  "title": "Cool Japan: Human fridge chills workers in extreme heat",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/cool-japan-human-fridge-chills-workers-in-extreme-heat",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T01:57:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/08/1518323/cool-japan-human-fridge-chills-workers-extreme-heat"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Higashiosaka, Japan saw temperatures soaring this summer, prompting warehouse worker Isao Tabuchi to seek refuge in a novel solution: the \"Do Hiemon Box.\" This refrigerator-sized machine provides a cool haven for workers battling extreme heat. The 51-year-old Tabuchi lauded the machine's effectiveness, saying it \"was really able to recover\" from the sweltering conditions. Trusco Nakayama, a Tokyo-based industrial equipment distributor, has sold over 300 units of the Do Hiemon Box since April, with customers ranging from construction sites to factories. The company even envisions future applications in golf courses and baseball stadiums. While some employees initially doubted the product's high cost and size, they now appreciate the instant relief it offers. In Japan, where the summer of 2025 recorded its hottest temperatures on record, businesses are investing heavily in heat countermeasures to protect workers and attract new talent.",
  "summary": "HIGASHIOSAKA, (Japan): Feeling dizzy and unwell after cycling to work in Japan’s punishing summer heat, warehouse worker Isao Tabuchi headed for his company’s newest acquisition: a refrigerator for humans.",
  "key_points": [
    "Higashiosaka experiences extreme summer heat.",
    "Isao Tabuchi uses Do Hiemon Box for cooling refuge.",
    "300+ Do Hiemon Boxes sold since April to combat heat."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The growing adoption of portable cooling solutions like the Do Hiemon Box reflects a shift in how Japanese businesses prioritize worker safety and comfort during extreme heat, now seen as a key factor in attracting talent.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Cool Japan: Human fridge chills workers in extreme heat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/cool-japan-human-fridge-chills-workers-in-extreme-heat-3166276",
        "published": "2026-08-25T02:23:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Cool Japan: Human fridge chills workers in extreme heat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/cool-japan-human-fridge-chills-workers-in-extreme-heat-3177143",
        "published": "2026-08-25T02:34:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}