A black jumbo watermelon auctioned in northern Japan fetched a record 650,000 yen (US$6,100) Friday, making it the most expensive watermelon ever sold in the country… and possibly the world.
The 8-kilogram premium Densuke watermelon, grown only on the northern island of Hokkaido, was purchased by a marine products dealer who said he wanted to support local agriculture, according to Kyodo News agency.
In a country where melons are a luxury item commonly given as gifts, the watermelon’s hefty price tag follows another jaw-dropping auction last month, where a pair of Yubari cantaloupe melons sold for a record 2.5 million yen (US$23,500).
“It’s a watermelon, but it’s not the same,” said Kazuyoshi Ohira, a spokesman for the Tohma Agricultural Cooperative in Hokkaido. “It has a different level of sweetness.” [Mainichi]
A pair of Yubari melons are sold for 2.5 million yen (~ USD23,800) in this harvest season’s first auction on May 13 at the Sapporo Central Wholesale Markets. The price is a record high, surpassing the 2 million yen a pair fetched last year. [Kyodo]
Yubari melons are known for their high quality and sweet taste, and are popular summer gifts in Japan; an average Yubari melon could cost USD50-100.
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.
Nestle has introduced a new flavour for its Kit Kat wafer bar, filled with powder from the famous Yubari melons; and the company will donate 10 yen to the bankrupting city of Yubari from every pack sold.
Sounds generous, but there’s some catches as pointed out by Stippy… turned out its more of a brilliant marketing campaign by Nestle instead of a genuine effort to help Yubari city.
Still, if the product does provide a bit of relieve for the city, I don’t think the folks there would mind if it’s genuine or not. It’s probably easier though, to spend a cool two million yen to buy two of their famous melons instead.
A pair of cantaloupes from Yubari, Hokkaido, fetched a whopping 2 million yen (over $16,000 USD) at the first auction of the season at the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market.
The price paid by Marui Imai Inc, a Sapporo based department store, has broken the previous record of 800,000 yen.
The two melons were on display at Marui Imai’s flagship outlet; priced at 1 million yen apiece. A spokesman said that the cantaloupes were more for publicity in celebration of their 135th anniversary instead of profit [Japantimes]
Yubari melons are known for their high quality and sweet taste. The melons are popular summer gifts in Japan; an average Yubari melon could cost $50-100 USD.
Giving gifts to corporate partners and clients is a traditional custom; it’s usually done twice a year in mid-winter and in mid-summer.
[update] The record was broken again in 2008 for 2.5 million yen.
