This week saw farmers from Zentsuji in Kanagawa Prefecture begin to sell the year’s first square melons. With around 800 of these ‘ideal for the freezer’ variants of the popular green fruit shipped to Tokyo, Osaka, and China. Priced at a decidedly un-mouthwatering 10,000 yen (50 pound) apiece.
This announcement, coupled with the recent sale of a 280,000 yen (1,400 pound) black melon, means that these are heady days indeed for melon maniacs.
A pity the same can’t be said for those of us in search of the regular and reasonably priced variety. In fact the way things are going, I may have to compromise and make do with a pyramid-shaped one instead.
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The obscene amount of money that people pay to buy ordinary fruits in a weird shape.
Then again, it’s mainly about the packaging in Japan, isn’t it? I remember honeydew exquisitely wrapped and packed in a box.
Pricey.
That pyramid watermelon is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. Do they sell these odd shaped fruits only in Kanagawa prefecture? I never saw anything like this in Tokyo. the closest thing I came to weird but cool fruit were these apples with the word “love” on the skin. I think what they did was that they taped a sticker of the word while the apple was still yellow and underripe, and when it got to its red color the part where the sticker was remained yellow. Anyway, it looked really cool. I should post a pic of it on my blog.
I agree Toni, the pyramid one is great.
Likewise, I’ve never seen any of these anywhere. But presumably it’ll only be the upmarket stores that stock them, and as I don’t frequent such places, then…
That said, I can’t even claim to have seen a fancy apple!
And Rach, yeah packaging is always a factor. But for what some of these melons cost, I’d expect some pretty special packaging for sure!
This is torturing plants like Bonsai. Poor plants…
this brings to mind something i saw for sale in a gardening catalogue here in the us some years back. it was a mold that you put around your nubile young squash to form various faces and such as they grew to maturity. wish i could find out where to buy some now. they were pretty cool and i could probably make a few yen selling them in japan.
rae.
seen this? it’s a bit old, but good:
http://www.prince-pepe.com/bargain/20050102/index1.html
Cool shapes on the melons, but who in their right mind would pay that much money! I thought Koreans were nuts on their over packing and over pricing of fruit.
I saw the pyramid watermelon today in Shinjuku Isetan dept store’s fruit section, B1. I think it was only for display tho.
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how would i go buy growing and makeing mellons square to ship them to japan for sell or is that illigal i dont know but thanks
Odd that some are starving while others pay 6 months rent (in Mineral Co, MT, USA) for a watermelon.
Here’s a prediction: someday food will be the medium of exchange.
I am a merchant in the US and looking to purchase square watermelons. Please some knows who I can contact to buy email me @ lahrichimari@yahoo.com.
Thank you
how can i find the name of co that makes hotto raisu,ie,instant rice in japan…any help good..thanks,steve b
some people have too much time on their hands !