Harsh Goenka shares Japan's concept of putting humans inside fridges to beat extreme summer heat, wants them on street corners across India: What is it?

As Japan battles soaring summer temperatures with innovative cooling solutions, industrialist Harsh Goenka has suggested that the country's new "human fridge" could find a place in India too. Sharing a video of the personal cooling booth on social media, Goenka said such units should be installed at street corners during summer to offer relief from extreme heat.

"Japan has introduced a “human fridge,” a personal cooling booth designed to help people cool down during extreme summer heat. With heat becoming unbearable, we should put them in street corners during summer," said Goenka in a post on social media platform X.

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What are human fridges?

A Japanese company has introduced what is being called a "human refrigerator" — a walk-in personal cooling booth designed to rapidly lower body temperature after prolonged exposure to extreme heat. While it may look like something out of a science fiction film, the innovation addresses a growing real-world problem as heatwaves become more frequent and intense.

Officially named the Do Hiemon Box, the booth has been developed by Japanese refrigeration company SDRS. Standing about 2.1 metres tall, it resembles an oversized stainless-steel vending machine.

How does it work?

The booth allows a person to step inside, sit down and cool off after spending time in the heat. It maintains an internal temperature of around 15°C, enabling users to spend about 10 minutes inside while the cool air rapidly lowers their body temperature.

According to the manufacturer, the system cools the body much faster than standing in front of a fan or even an air conditioner, making it particularly useful for people working outdoors or in high-temperature environments.

How much does it cost?

The Do Hiemon Box is now available in Japan through industrial equipment distributors. The standard model is priced at 1.5 million yen (excluding tax) and is currently aimed primarily at businesses and organisations. However, SDRS believes that as extreme summer heat becomes more frequent, such cooling booths could eventually become a common feature in public spaces, offering people a quick way to cool down during heatwaves.