How much would you pay for a pair of the best melons in the world? $16? $160? $1,600??
A pair of cantaloupes from the bankrupt city of Yubari, Hokkaido, fetched a whopping 2 million yen (over USD16,000) at the first auction of the season at the Sapporo central wholesale market.
The $16,000 Yubari melons displayed
at a Sapporo department store
The price paid by Marui Imai Inc, a Sapporo based department store, for the upmarket produce surpassed the previous record of 800,000 yen for two cantaloupes.
The two melons were put on display at Marui Imai’s flagship outlet priced at 1 million yen apiece. Yoshikazu Hoshino, 59, a purchasing officer at the department store, said the cantaloupes were more for publicity than profit.
“We were bullish in the bidding because we’re celebrating our 135th anniversary this year. We wanted as many customers as possible to see them,” he said.
One of the million-yen fruits has already been sold, the store said. [Japantimes]
Yubari melon - popular summer gift
Yubari melons are known for their high quality and sweet taste, and are popular summer gifts in Japan; an average Yubari melon could have cost US$50-100.
Giving gifts to corporate partners and clients is a traditional Japanese business custom. It’s usually done twice a year in mid-winter and again in mid-summer.