TOKYO (Kyodo/APP):With another hot summer expected this year in Japan, products to help consumers cope with the scorching weather are evolving, ranging from upgraded versions of staple items such as parasols to drink bottles outfitted with misting functions. At a Hands Inc. retail store in the Shinjuku area in central Tokyo, parasols developed in collaboration with Toray Industries Inc. are part of a vast collection on display in a section selling products to counter the heat, including handheld fans.
The parasols boast high-performance fabric offering UV protection and a heat-shielding effect, according to company officials. In addition to standard handheld fans, a new ultracompact type that can be attached to a parasol has also hit the market. “With people often carrying several items with them to stay cool, we are seeing an increase in smaller and lighter products,” said Akiko Taguchi, a public relations officer at Hands. Sales of uniquely designed cooling goods are also increasing, with Osaka-based Logos Corp. offering an “instant ice stamp” that immediately freezes a wet towel or handkerchief when it is pressed for one to three seconds.
When it was launched in 2024, the product sold out before summer, prompting the company to increase production. Sales this year, starting from around the Golden Week holidays in May, remained strong.
Tokyo-based Daisaku Shoji Ltd. has introduced the Magicool Drink Mist stainless steel bottle that allows people to enjoy their favorite drinks while a mist of water is sprayed. Apps are also being developed to help people survive the heat. Navitime Japan Co. has introduced a new feature known as Shady Route on its Alkoo by Navitime walking app to recommend routes with many shaded areas.
The app also has another feature, Shady Map, to help people find shade on a map by analyzing the height of buildings and the angle of the sun. The idea behind the Shady Map stemmed from a conversation among engineers who wanted to be able to walk outside despite the severe heat. The Shady Map and Shady Route features have won prizes, including the innovation award at a competition for heat countermeasures goods organized by the Tokyo metropolitan government.
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