Comments on: 650,000 Yen Watermelon http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/ Japan News Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:15:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Japan’s latest crime wave? | Japan Probe http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-192591 Japan’s latest crime wave? | Japan Probe Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:37:59 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-192591 [...] these are not just any peaches, as earlier reported on Japan Probe, fruit that is specially boxed and purchased for gifts can be rather pricey, almost to the point of [...] [...] these are not just any peaches, as earlier reported on Japan Probe, fruit that is specially boxed and purchased for gifts can be rather pricey, almost to the point of [...]

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Madster http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-182385 Madster Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:26:10 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-182385 The melon costs so much becuase 1. It is a very rare type of watermelon ~ The black rind is an unusual color, and it is very thick, making the melon a good keeper after it's been picked, and 2. The flesh and taste of the inside is described as "unsurpassed." This strain of melon has a sugar rating (called "blix") of 13. Most melons rank from 10-11, with a few of the "sugar baby" varieties rating a 12. But that only justifies the "regular price" of about $200 USD for one. The auction price of $6,100 USD (about ¥160,000) is NOT outrageous, as it is a form of farming subsidy. The year's harvest for these melons is estimated to be about 9,000 through a growing season that will last until about October. The first harvest of 65 melons had been completed, and there was an auction of 15 of those melons. The one that sold for $6K was considered to be the "cream of the crop," and was the FIRST melon of the auction. It was "perfect." Just as gift giving shows wealth and success, so does being the "first" at anything. The monies from the auction support the Touma Agricultural CoOp, so it is very much a "charity" auction. The high amount purchased the "best of the best" of the First Harvest of these rare and exotic melons, gaining the buyer great status (although his plans are to now auction the melon on the Internet), helped raise some good money for the farmers, and certainly gained the Touma region and its rare watermelons a great deal of publicity ~ world wide! This will, in turn, make their special melons that much more desirable to be purchased and given as gifts. The largest melon of this harvest was 23 pounds (really pushing the envelope for this strain), and was shipped to Tokyo directly following the auction, where it is now in the window of a Tokyo Department store, with an asking price of $5,945 USD (such a bargain!). At this stage, profiteering is kicking in, but again, the prestige of giving such a gift in Japan has its own value independent of the actual worth of a somewhat unique piece of fruit... The melon costs so much becuase 1. It is a very rare type of watermelon ~ The black rind is an unusual color, and it is very thick, making the melon a good keeper after it’s been picked, and 2. The flesh and taste of the inside is described as “unsurpassed.” This strain of melon has a sugar rating (called “blix”) of 13. Most melons rank from 10-11, with a few of the “sugar baby” varieties rating a 12.

But that only justifies the “regular price” of about $200 USD for one.
The auction price of $6,100 USD (about ¥160,000) is NOT outrageous, as it is a form of farming subsidy. The year’s harvest for these melons is estimated to be about 9,000 through a growing season that will last until about October. The first harvest of 65 melons had been completed, and there was an auction of 15 of those melons. The one that sold for $6K was considered to be the “cream of the crop,” and was the FIRST melon of the auction. It was “perfect.” Just as gift giving shows wealth and success, so does being the “first” at anything. The monies from the auction support the Touma Agricultural CoOp, so it is very much a “charity” auction. The high amount purchased the “best of the best” of the First Harvest of these rare and exotic melons, gaining the buyer great status (although his plans are to now auction the melon on the Internet), helped raise some good money for the farmers, and certainly gained the Touma region and its rare watermelons a great deal of publicity ~ world wide! This will, in turn, make their special melons that much more desirable to be purchased and given as gifts.

The largest melon of this harvest was 23 pounds (really pushing the envelope for this strain), and was shipped to Tokyo directly following the auction, where it is now in the window of a Tokyo Department store, with an asking price of $5,945 USD (such a bargain!). At this stage, profiteering is kicking in, but again, the prestige of giving such a gift in Japan has its own value independent of the actual worth of a somewhat unique piece of fruit…

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: BODOBLOG: El Blog de Bodoque » Otra vez… las sandías más caras (Adriana Barrientos style) http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-182061 BODOBLOG: El Blog de Bodoque » Otra vez… las sandías más caras (Adriana Barrientos style) Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:43:37 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-182061 [...] Gentileza de JapanProbe [...] [...] Gentileza de JapanProbe [...]

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: morningstar http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-180933 morningstar Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:22:48 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-180933 Why does the watermelon cost so much? Why does the watermelon cost so much?

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: helical http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-180433 helical Sun, 08 Jun 2008 04:49:56 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-180433 It ought to have benefits like curing cancer or making me grow a couple inches taller if it costs that much for a single fruit. It ought to have benefits like curing cancer or making me grow a couple inches taller if it costs that much for a single fruit.

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Dr. Pepsi http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-180054 Dr. Pepsi Sat, 07 Jun 2008 06:57:19 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-180054 6 grand and it isn't even square. 6 grand and it isn’t even square.

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Jerry http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-179907 Jerry Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:44:48 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-179907 it somehow shows how Japan has become so futuristic! that fruits like melons wud cost 650,000 yen in like 50 years it somehow shows how Japan has become so futuristic!
that fruits like melons wud cost 650,000 yen in like 50 years

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: 404error http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-179869 404error Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:44:39 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-179869 man just 20m from my house you can get 1Kg melon for 1€^^ ca. 1$50c those prices are insane... and melons are mostly just water xD man just 20m from my house you can get 1Kg melon for 1€^^ ca. 1$50c

those prices are insane… and melons are mostly just water xD

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Montsan http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-179864 Montsan Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:38:50 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-179864 As long as a portion of the proceeds are going toward a good cause, I have no problem with these occasional overpriced sales. We'd be entering questionable territory if the sellers tried marketing these melons at these prices on a regular basis. It does look pretty delicious, though. I still want to try a square watermelon just for the novelty of it. As long as a portion of the proceeds are going toward a good cause, I have no problem with these occasional overpriced sales. We’d be entering questionable territory if the sellers tried marketing these melons at these prices on a regular basis.

It does look pretty delicious, though. I still want to try a square watermelon just for the novelty of it.

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: ashredrum http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-179794 ashredrum Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:27:05 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-179794 This would have to be amazing tasting for the price.. This would have to be amazing tasting for the price..

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Tami http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-179733 Tami Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:27:57 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-179733 Woa... i didn't know that melons are soooo pricy in Japan that they work as a gift... i tend to have a lot of water- honey-melon in the summer time. Though this one looks really good, koy is right, i wonder too. :D Woa… i didn’t know that melons are soooo pricy in Japan that they work as a gift… i tend to have a lot of water- honey-melon in the summer time.
Though this one looks really good, koy is right, i wonder too. :D

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: koy http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-179658 koy Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:26:42 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-179658 but that melon really does look perfect. I wonder if it tastes as good as it looks ;) but that melon really does look perfect. I wonder if it tastes as good as it looks ;)

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Wine Blog http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-179630 Wine Blog Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:30:45 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-179630 This must be one hell of a melon for that much! I wish I could give melons as gifts, it would save a lot of time and money! This must be one hell of a melon for that much! I wish I could give melons as gifts, it would save a lot of time and money!

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Sandy http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-179625 Sandy Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:26:15 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-179625 Finally - I understand the concept of giving watermelons as gifts! Over here, giving someone a watermelon would be the equivalent of giving someone a... bag of apples. Finally – I understand the concept of giving watermelons as gifts! Over here, giving someone a watermelon would be the equivalent of giving someone a… bag of apples.

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: densuke watermelon | Hottags http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/06/650000-yen-watermelon/comment-page-1/#comment-179583 densuke watermelon | Hottags Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:19:42 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4796#comment-179583 [...] watermelon pay per click advertising 650000 yen WatermelonThe 17-pound (8-kilogram) premium “Densuke” watermelon, grown only on the northern island of [...] [...] watermelon pay per click advertising 650000 yen WatermelonThe 17-pound (8-kilogram) premium “Densuke” watermelon, grown only on the northern island of [...]

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]>