Now that's what you call a cool idea! Japanese firms are selling 'fridges for humans' that chill you almost instantly - but they come at a hefty price

With sweltering heatwaves becoming a regular summer occurrence, two Japanese firms have launched a very unusual way to beat the heat.The Do Hiemon 'personal cooling box' looks just like the dozens of other vending machines found lining a typical Japanese street.But this is actually the first 'fridge for humans', and is designed to cool you almost instantly.Customers simply step inside the stainless steel box, measuring 7ft (2.13 m) tall and 3.9ft (1.19 m) deep, to feel a powerful jet of cooling air.The inside of the human fridge is kept at a crisp 15°C (59°F) while a blast of air chilled to 5°C (41°F) is blown onto the customer's head, neck, shoulders, and back.SDRS, a vending machine maker and the fridge's manufacturer, says that the user will feel significantly cooler after as little as five minutes inside the device.Meanwhile, spending 10 minutes in the container will ease the symptoms of heat exhaustion, according to the company.However, this cool innovation comes at a hefty price, with each unit coming in at £6,862 (1.5 million Yen). Two Japanese firms have created the world's first 'fridge for humans', designed to cool you down almost instantly This innovation comes as Japan faces a brutal summer heatwave, with temperatures climbing to 38°C (100°F) and officials issuing heatstroke warnings.The idea behind the Do Hiemon human fridge is to give users a quick blast of cooling so that they can get on with their day in as short a time as possible.The machine is even equipped with an automatic timer that shuts off after 20 minutes to prevent overcooling.Trusco, the device's distributor, says that its personal cooling box is the first device to achieve 'full body cooling'.The company claims that this means they can chill the body faster than conventional air conditioning methods or fans.Likewise, the compact design also means that the Do Hiemon could be much cheaper to run.Trusco says that the electricity demands are so low that it costs just 7p (16 yen) per hour to operate – more energy efficient than a conventional air conditioner.Placed on wheels and operable from a conventional power outlet, the human fridge has been designed to deploy quickly and easily, even out in the open. Users sit inside the stainless steel box and are blasted with a jet of air cooled to 5°C (41°F), providing effective cooling in as little as five minutes Its inventors say that the box could be deployed on construction sites and farms to give workers an escape from the brutal heat.Alternatively, the box on wheels might find a home in malls, schools, festivals, sporting facilities, or anywhere else that people need a quick cool down.Since going on sale in April, the human fridge has already proven popular in Japan and has popped up in several public places.On social media, tech fans have praised this thoughtful invention, with one commenter dubbing it 'a brilliant adaptation tool for factory workers.'Another commenter on X wrote: 'This is needed everywhere around the globe.''Japan cares about their hardworking people,' chimed in one enthusiastic fan.While one added: 'I need one of these in Florida.'However, SDRS and Trusco haven't confirmed whether they will make the device available outside of Japan. The inventors say that the box can alleviate the symptoms of heat exhaustion in 10 minutes, which could make it vital for construction sites and farms in Japan's brutal summer heat This comes as Japan faces a heatwave that has sent temperatures soaring to 38°C (100°F), sending 4,500 people to hospital with heatstroke symptoms. Pictured: People in Tokyo seek shelter under a cooling mist This comes as Japan finds itself grappling with a wave of extreme heatwaves that have caused over 1,500 deaths from heatstroke per year on average, according to Japan's Central Environment Council.In 2024, heat–related deaths hit a record high, with 2,160 fatalities recorded due to heatstroke.That coincided with the nation's hottest summer since record–keeping began in 1898, as average temperatures climbed 2.36°C (4.25°F) above average.Temperatures even nudged above 40°C (104°F) on nine days between June and August, setting a new national record of 41.8°C (107.2°F) in the city of Isesaki.Currently, Japan is facing yet another heatwave that has already killed six and sent 4,500 people to hospital, according to the Japanese fire and disaster management agency.WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO KEEP COOL DURING A HEATWAVE? The NHS has a number of tips for keeping cool during bouts of unusually hot weather.- Drink plenty of fluids- Open windows or other vents around the home - Shade or cover windows exposed to direct sunlight - Grow plants inside and outside to provide shade and help cool the air- Turn off lights and electrical equipment that isn't in use- Take a break if your home gets too hot: Head to a nearby air-conditioned building like a library or supermarket