According to the Tokyo-based industrial equipment distributor Trusco Nakayama, more than 300 units of the “Do Hiemon Box” human refrigerator have been sold since April. The device, priced at 9,400 dollars and resembling a telephone booth, pumps 5-degree-Celsius air to quickly drop core body temperatures and alleviate heat stress during extreme weather.
Cooling the Workforce: Inside Japan’s Portable Refrigeration Booths
Extreme summer temperatures are driving new industrial investments across Japan. According to Trusco Nakayama, construction sites, factories, and warehouses are increasingly purchasing the “Do Hiemon Box” to protect employees from high heat. The company plans to expand distribution to golf and baseball courses.
Operating via a standard electrical outlet, the portable booth requires minimal energy and shuts off automatically after 20 minutes.
Pro Tip: Portable cooling units like the Do Hiemon Box serve as a primary defense in outdoor industrial settings, but they work best when paired with scheduled breaks and shaded rest areas.
Broader Climate Adaptation Strategies in Tokyo
Beyond refrigeration boxes, organizations are implementing wide-ranging policy changes to combat severe weather. According to government updates, Tokyo allowed public servants to wear short clothing at work, breaking long-standing formal dress traditions. Additionally, construction supervisors must provide cooling garments such as fan-equipped vests, air-conditioned break rooms, and sunshades.
These measures arrive amid severe public health impacts. According to official figures, Tokyo recorded roughly 120 heat-related deaths by mid-August, while approximately 63,000 people across Japan required urgent medical care this summer.
France Moves Forward with High School Phone Bans
According to official announcements, the French government will implement a strict ban on mobile phones in high schools starting with the new academic year. The French Parliament passed a two-part law in July targeting both student distraction in classrooms and youth access to social media.
While the Constitutional Council struck down the legislative component banning social media access for those under 15, the Ministry of Education is proceeding with the classroom phone ban. Middle and elementary schools in France already enforce similar device restrictions.
Did You Know? The Elysee Palace confirmed that President Emmanuel Macron’s administration is preparing a revised bill to restrict children from accessing platforms like TikTok by the coming spring.
Archaeological Discoveries Reveal Roman Temples and Presses in Lebanon
According to the Ministry of Culture's Director General of Antiquities, Sarkis Khoury, recent archaeological excavations in Lebanon have uncovered significant historical sites.
According to archaeological findings, the temple site dates from the first century BC to the second century AD. The location was subsequently fortified during the Fatimid era around the 10th century and later used as a castle by Crusaders between the 12th and 13th centuries. Nearby excavations also revealed rock-cut tombs and production areas.
On private land along the coast of Batroun, researchers discovered a Roman olive oil press that remained operational into the Byzantine period, alongside pottery weights and weaving tools. Meanwhile, in downtown Beirut, archaeological supervisor Laur Salloum noted that excavations continue to unearth the remaining sections of the Roman hippodrome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Do Hiemon Box?
According to Trusco Nakayama, it is a portable, telephone-booth-sized cooling unit that pumps air at 5 degrees Celsius to lower a person’s body temperature within minutes.
Why is France banning phones in schools?
According to the French government, mobile phones disrupt classroom focus and hinder proper academic achievement, prompting a ban in high schools building on existing rules in middle and elementary schools.
What was recently discovered in Maasser el-Chouf?
According to the Directorate General of Antiquities, excavations revealed the ruins of a large Roman temple dating back to the period between the first century BC and the second century AD.
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