Innovative Personal Cooling Products Gaining Popularity in East Asia

Walking through Tokyo during summer, you will notice hand-held fans everywhere. However, Eimi Nakayama’s fan was a more advanced version. Equipped with a small metal plate based on semiconductor technology, it generates coolness using electrical currents.

“The sensation is similar to pressing a cold drink against your neck,” said Ms. Nakayama, a 20-year-old student. “The air flow feels cooler, possibly due to the plate.”

This product is growing in popularity across East Asian cities. A deadly heat wave recently hit, leading to canceled baseball games in South Korea. Japan introduced a new term, kokushobi or “cruel heat day,” reflecting the harsh conditions.

East Asia’s summers are increasingly hot and extended. “Personal cooling” has become essential in daily life. The market once ruled by simple hand-held fans now includes various advanced items. These range from air-conditioned clothing to sprays that promise instant body temperature reduction.

Sales of these cooling products are rapidly increasing. Both employers and governments now view them as necessities rather than luxuries.