As Japan swelters, pet owners turn to fan-powered cooling vests

Japan's sweltering summer heat isn't just brutal for humans, it can be deadly for dogs and cats, and a clothing maker has come up with a novel solution -- a fan suit. 

Inspired by air-conditioned vests worn by Japanese construction workers, a Tokyo-based maternity-wear manufacturer has created a puffy, cooling jacket to help pet owners protect their furry friends from heatstroke.

Inside the suit, two battery-powered fans pull in a steady flow of air, which is then chilled by an ice pack in the collar before circulating through the body and venting at the neck and legs for full-body cooling.

"Since it uses natural air circulation, it doesn’t make the dog feel sick, which is nice. Even the tummy area gets cooled down too,” said 36-year-old's pet owner Harumi Wakabayashi during a try-on event in Tokyo on Wednesday (August 19).

This summer, many cities in Japan have observed temperatures soaring past 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), a level the government described as a brutally hot day, known locally as 'Kokushobi'.

“I have never lived in a hotter country than here. It is very dangerous even for us humans, and for dogs who cannot sweat like us, it's even worse,” said Masha Togo, owner of a five-year-old Dachshund 'Momo', who added that she has been avoiding walking Momo during the day.

Hikaru Uzawa, director of Sweet Mommy, the company behind the breathable outfit, said the design was developed in close collaboration with veterinarians.

"Vets told us that dogs are just like humans - the most effective way to cool them down is by targeting the areas where major blood vessels run… That’s why we designed this product to focus on cooling those key areas,” he said.

The latest version - where pet owners can insert an ice pack for ‘air-conditioned’ effect - comes in four sizes, priced at 16,500 yen ($104) each. The pet outfit has become a major hit since the launch of its first series in 2022, selling nearly 10,000 units.

“Climate change is becoming more severe not just in Japan, but globally. Because of that, I think pet owners really need to think about solutions to keep their dogs and cats comfortable,” said Uzawa.

Camera, Editing and Writing: Irene Wang, Production: Irene Wang, Hayato Onodera/Reuters