Trends In Japan : Air-Conditioned Clothing And Beds

Kuchoufuku Chief Executive Officer,Hiroshi Ichigaya, poses with fans from an 'air-conditioned' jacket at the company's offices in Saitama Prefecture northwest of Tokyo August 17, 2007. Two small fans sewn into the back of each garment and powered by a pocket-sized rechargeable battery pack circulate air across the wearer's skin, evaporating perspiration and keeping temperatures down -- a welcome respite from Japan's mid-summer humidity and record-breaking heat in recent days.

The fan sewn into the side of an 'air-conditioned' jacket is pictured at the offices of Japanese manufacturer Kuchou-fuku in Saitama Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo August 17, 2007.

Workers wear 'air-conditioned' jackets at the offices of Japanese manufacturer Kuchou-fuku in Saitama Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo August 17, 2007.

Kuchoufuku has a wide range of products including jackets, pants, white shirts (for both men and women), and workshirts with dual fans that create constant air flow. Combined with the bed, it’s now possible to spend nearly every second of your day being fanned with cool air for those hot and humid summers.

The traditional Japanese way to stay cool in the summer months is to lay on a flexible pad of bamboo tiles, but we’ve never quite gotten used to the hard feeling. Enter Kuchofuku, now releasing it’s 2007 series of air-conditioned lifestyle products including a bed!

Using a standard AC adapter, the 2.4kg (5.3lb) Kuchoufuku Air-conditioned Bed is extremely ecological, and the maker claims that with everyday use for eight hours the bed will use less than ¥30 ($.24) for the entire month! It also rolls up into the included bag for compact storage.