Summer might be the time for designer fireworks, but it’s pretty darn humid around here.
To battle the intense heat, Japanese companies have an interesting new product up their sleeves: ice cold cooling foam sprays, which are advertised as to provide instant temperature cool downs for users. Japanese male cosmetic brands such as Gatsby and Uno are well appreciated for their cooling body and facial sheets that not only provide the user with a sensational frosty feeling, but remove facial oil as well. Products such as these are not new, but we have seen a boom in demand for them this summer with the idea of “setsuden” (energy saving) becoming more imminent in Japanese people’s everyday lives. Taking it one step further from traditional cooling sprays, this fascinating innovation actually releases a chilling foam that hardens and can be wrapped around the user’s wrist.
Products such as “Hokkyoku Monogatari” (directly translated: Tales of the North Pole) offer a whole new method of cooling down in an interesting way. Not only are they convenient, they can be transformed into anything, ranging from a icy wristwatch to graffiti sprayed onto one’s body. The blue foam feels like a giant ball of silly string and as they squeeze it, the air bubbles expand and then “pop,” releasing a refreshing breeze of cool air.
Ice Spark is also another cool product that offers a similar solution to the heat in Japan: it sprays a freezing -9 degrees Celsius gel that fizzes on the user’s skin, creating a satisfying bubbly sensation. The crackling sound is particularly pleasing to the ear and the gel dries up after a couple seconds, without leaving a sticky feeling on the skin. The spray can be used for different purposes, such as a citrus smelling deodorant.
In line with the “setsuden goods,” a term coined for products that save electricity, we can see a handful of Japanese companies developing new products to counter the intense heat in Japan. Tokyu Hands, a Japanese department store focused on hobby, home improvement, and lifestyle products, has a whole floor dedicated to cooling products.
Numerous ideas for cooling sprays are being placed on shelves, such as the Savanna 50 Blizzard, which instantly sprays -15 degrees Celsius mist onto towels and handkerchiefs, as well as clothes and the insides of shoes.
Sprays are not the only type of lineup that Tokyu Hands has to offer; Ice Masks, Zero Degrees Pillows/Neck-rests, bandannas, scarves, and many other interesting innovations that add a chilly touch to a normal consumer product.
Ice gels and ice bars are also available for those who aren’t afraid to get wet or experience a frosty touch on their skin.
Gatsby “Ice-Type” facial and body sheets are also extremely popular among the Japanese, as they not only act as a cooling deodorant but wipe away facial grease as well.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Japan without cute looking cases for ice coolers such as the ones below.
Although sprays such as Hokkyoku Monogatari and Ice Spark may not exactly be eco-friendly, they definitely do provide a way to endure the intense heat that saves energy in contrast to air conditioners and electric fans.
Related Posts:
Steteco: traditional cooling clothes for contemporary consumers
Summer brings itchy groins, fun commercials
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Ronald is an intern at CScout Japan writing on technology and product innovations for Japan Trends. He was raised in Tokyo, and currently studies International Business and Marketing at Pepperdine University in California. 
This is amazing! Now it’s time for these sort or products to be brought to the US. I could use a little spray-on-chill in the NY summer heat. :)
Japanese scientists are greatest
keren abis bro
Wow, amazing what Japanese always came up with ideas. Sugoiiii …
Amazing,
Spray cans that might be releasing more CFCs into atmosphere to eat the ozone layer. Instant gratification instead of long term outlook. Try a pump bottle?
Spray cans only release CFCs if the thing they are spraying contains them. CFCs are now illegal to use in new products.
is there a way to get this in the u.s.?
Cool I’m going to check some of this stuff out
Wow!! Amazing stuff. Japan never stops coming up with new and innovative products.
I love japan stuff! I wish something like that could be sold here in Italy too!
Japan is cool!
Anyone know where any of these can be bought for Europe? Ive scoured ebay haha, would love the novelty of it
Nice review of ‘setsuden’ goods. :) Just as an aside, I’m fairly sure the store you refer to (and where it seems a fair few of the photos were taken) is called Tokyu Hands, not Tokyo.
amazing COOL FOAM , iS anybody know how can I get this product in USA? Thanks
I´m interested inm buying this kind of products for US and Latin America, please give me the contact information.
Regards
This is amazing! Naturally my skin is somewhat oily so I would benefit from this even more during the blazing summer heat. <3 Japan!
This might help with a crazy medical condition a lot of people suffer from when walking in the heat! When can we get it in the U.S.??
This would make an awesome cuzzy fo my beer.
i wonder what kind of cancer/carcinogen this is loaded with?
japanese are crafty but this is ultra synthetic.
reminds me of vapoorize. awesome idea. bound to not be nice to organics.
oh well let them product test it. in good old usa we product test stuff in africa first. japan should learn from that and figure out how to do it x10 better. should be easy with this item. its really fin hot in africa.
Summer in japan is really really hot too. then im starting using those products & make the whole lot summer so cool… AMAZING JAPAN !!!!
I live in Kyushu Japan and I have been to every drug store in Kumamoto. I can’t find the spray or gel at all. Where did you find them?