While some inventions originating in Japan can seem a little quirky by Western standards, many of those are at the same time rather innovative. This is certainly the case with the cooling foams and gels in spray-cans, which are cooling down Japanese city-dwellers this summer.
Many readers now enjoying summer in the Northern Hemisphere perhaps don't mind dealing with the heat by using air-conditioners, but many of the power-conscious citizens of Japan reportedly do. According to the Japan Trends website, chilling foams and gels in spray-cans aren't particularly new, but this season they have become a hit product. The whole idea is a part of the "setsuden" (energy saving) trend, currently gaining popularity among the Japanese.
One of the cooling products is a blue foam called "Hokkyoku Monogatari" (directly translated: "tales of the North Pole"), which sets after being sprayed onto the skin. It can be then molded into any shape, such as a bracelet or necklace, or it can be sprayed onto one's body like graffiti, all providing the user with a chilling sensation.
Ice Spark is another Japanese solution for dealing with the heat. It comes in the form of a gel that "fizzes on the user's skin," and gets as cold as -9 degrees Celsius (15.8 °F). The gel dries up completely after a few seconds. It reportedly has a crisp citrus scent, and can be used as a deodorant.
There's no word on how safe either product is, but the video below shows how they're used:
I mean REALLY?
Or a garden hose?
A SLOW running fan and a water spray or wet bed sheets, or a wide brim hat?
A big cup of iced tea?
Or a lay down in the shade?
Or the ubiquitious sports drink bottle - streamed urine style, over your face and head...
A wet T shirt.....
Lay under a wet towel....
I just can\'t think of a more idiotic, costly, ineffective, hassle to remember, carry and use, and probably not get much use from over a long hot summer, kind of a stupid solution.
A sink full of water and a splash of the face and hair and a quick wipe... Ohhh wonderful.