Japanese 'Do Hiemon Box' cooling cabins launched as heat wave hits

Japanese firms SDRS and TRUSCO have introduced the "Do Hiemon Box," a personal cooling cabin shaped like a vending machine. The steel cabinet measures about 2.13 m tall and 1.19 m deep, maintains an interior temperature of 15 °C and directs a 5 °C air jet to the head, neck, shoulders and back. It operates for up to 20 minutes before an automatic shut‑off to prevent over‑cooling. Priced at roughly 1.5 million yen (≈ 7,000–9,000 USD/EUR), the device was launched on 1 April 2026 and has been purchased by over 130 companies for use in factories, construction sites and outdoor events. The company states the cabin can lower body temperature within 5–10 minutes, offering rapid relief during Japan’s intensifying heat waves, which have seen temperatures reach 38–40 °C and cause thousands of heat‑related illnesses and deaths. The portable unit consumes about half the electricity of a conventional floor‑standing air‑conditioner and can be moved on built‑in wheels, with some local governments already installing units for public access.