Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Okayama Regional Cooperation Headquarters Uses Palm Cooling "RACCOON" for Heatstroke Prevention

The heatstroke prevention solution "RACCOON," developed by the Design Laboratory for Life (Office: Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture; Representative Director: Issei Oura) and manufactured and sold by COCO&RONA Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture; Representative Director: Hikari Nishikawa), which garnered attention as a new heatstroke prevention technology at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, was used as part of the heatstroke prevention measures by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Okayama Regional Cooperation Headquarters. The device was deployed on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the "11th Tamashima Harbor Festival," a port festival including defense and disaster prevention exhibitions held on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, under fine weather just before a typhoon. At the midsummer venue bustling with the public opening of the JDS Niyodo, many visitors, from children to adults, experienced "RACCOON" by gripping the handrail to cool their palms. Based on this track record, the company will begin full-scale sales, leasing, and rental to support safety at local governments, public facilities, and construction sites ahead of the peak summer season.

The "Tamashima Harbor Festival" is a popular outdoor waterfront event that attracts many families and local residents. June is a period of high heatstroke risk due to sudden temperature rises, making safety measures for children with underdeveloped thermoregulation and elderly people at high risk a challenge. Therefore, in addition to measures that "cool or block the environment" such as mist fans and shade tents, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Okayama Regional Cooperation Headquarters decided to use "RACCOON" as a means to suppress the rise in "internal body heat (core body temperature)," one of the causes of heatstroke.

The "RACCOON" installed at the venue attracted the attention of many visitors due to its eye-catching design and novel approach focusing on core body temperature. Children who had run around the square and become sweaty were seen voluntarily cooling down with "RACCOON."

[Visitor Voices]
・"Unlike just having wind blown on you, I felt a cooling sensation from the core of my body. I could enjoy the event with peace of mind even with a small child."
・"Since you just grip the handrail, even children could use it easily."

In recent years of extreme heat, "lowering core body temperature" is being cited as a key point for heatstroke prevention in heat countermeasures and safety management, and palm cooling is sometimes recommended as one method. However, the temperature of palm cooling is important; cooling directly with ice or cold packs can be too cold, causing the AVA blood vessels in the palms to constrict, hindering blood flow, making it difficult for cooled blood to return to the heart, and reducing the effect of suppressing the rise in core body temperature.

"RACCOON" is a heat countermeasure infrastructure designed to cool the blood vessels responsible for thermoregulation (AVA blood vessels) at approximately 15°C, a temperature at which the blood vessels in the palms are less likely to constrict. Unlike common cooling products that cool the skin or surrounding air, "RACCOON" is characterized by its approach to core body temperature from the palms, emphasizing the maintenance of approximately 15°C.

*"RACCOON" is a registered trademark. Two related patents are pending.
*This product is not a medical device. If heatstroke is suspected, promptly provide appropriate first aid and medical treatment.

◯High outdoor mobility: It can be moved on casters and installed outdoors without air conditioning if a power source is available. It can provide rest spots to escape the heat and cool the body at event venues, large parks, sports facilities, and construction sites.

◯Sustainability: It reduces power consumption by cooling the body directly rather than cooling the space with air conditioning, and the housing uses thinned wood. It is designed for outdoor heat countermeasures while considering environmental impact.

"Affordance design" that requires no explanation, just a grip. The stainless steel parts have a self-cleaning effect from condensation water (confirmed by ATP measurement).

Based on the track record at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Okayama Regional Cooperation Headquarters, the company will begin full-scale sales, leasing, and rental for the following areas:
・Local governments and tourism associations: For summer local festivals, fireworks displays, disaster prevention events, and as disaster prevention stockpiles for evacuation centers.
・Designated administrators of public sports and park facilities: As rest areas at outdoor sports facilities and large parks.
・Factory facilities, construction, and civil engineering industries: As heat countermeasures and safety and health equipment for workers in extreme heat environments.

As Japan's summers become increasingly severe year by year, "RACCOON" will support Japan's summers as a heat countermeasure solution that protects outdoor activities and the body.

Contact for this matter:
COCO&RONA Co., Ltd. RACCOON Project Desk
E-mail: raccoon@coco-rona.jp
*The official product website (https://www.raccoon.or.jp) is scheduled to open soon.