City begins square watermelon shipments

More waste.

Anyone who knows about the culture here would know that these watermelons and other fruits that are grown for decoration, are typically used as ornamental fixings during the upcoming Obon season on family altars.

There are basically 3 O'bon seasons in Japan, July 13,14,15 August 13,14,15 and the Lunar Obon, typically celebrated here in Okinawa which happens to fall on the same days, August 13,14,15,

Folks pay a lot of money for getting ready for O'bon and these watermelons are just one aspect of it!

A hundred bucks for a watermelon just because it’s square? I’ll bet it tastes exactly the same as a round one for five bucks. “A fool and his money are easily parted!”

They look delicious and sweet. Only in Japan! And I guarantee all those 10,000¥ Watermelons will sell out. Further proof the Japanese economy is going from strength to strength!

@hustle, the article clearly says they are not edible. Read Yubaru's explanation.

It may not have the same sweetness like normal watermelons as something like watched in the tv channel before. It is selling just for decoration for display or some occasion as they mentioned.

It is better to eat normal watermelon by seeing the pictures of such square watermelon for satisfaction.

What an amazing view! The idea is one of a kind. But so expensive!

I think that such things are just a waste of time and energy and achieves absolutely nothing. It is stupid, wasteful and a rip-off

Only in Japan you can find these ridiculously high prices for fruits and vegetables. Regular watermelons go for 2.500 yen at the supermarket. Tell me which average family can afford one. It shouldn't be more than 500 yen

Looks much easier to stack!

Wasting resources to grow and ship a fruit you can't eat. And idiots will buy them, showing off how much money they have.

Humans can be so stupid.

OH they stack so nicely :) :)

Ganbare Japan!Today  09:32 am JST

They look delicious and sweet.

Article: "the watermelons are not edible."

And I guarantee all those 10,000¥ Watermelons will sell out. Only in Japan!

Yes! Only in Japan!

Further proof the Japanese economy is going from strength to strength!

Thank you for my daily chuckle!

Ganbare Japan!Today  09:32 am JST

They look delicious and sweet. Only in Japan! And I guarantee all those 10,000¥ Watermelons will sell out. Further proof the Japanese economy is going from strength to strength!

Ganbare - if you read the article, you'll see that "the watermelons are not edible."

So aren't you glad you didn't spaff 10,000 yen on one of these monuments to pointless waste?

The cost of a round regular sized watermelon at my local shop is 2500 yen. I'll never understand why so much.

Please read the article! YOU CANNOT EAT THEM

Random - @hustle, the article clearly says they are not edible. Read Yubaru's explanation.

The fact they are not edible makes them even more ridiculous.

CHANGING nature natural ways of things are never good, what is this water merlon for ???. To prove that Japanese still have money or to prove that there are many crazy people ???.

Energy, space, time, water and food wasted for nothing. I hope they move on from this ridiculous and useless spendings which I honestly find to be extremely pretencious. The bubble has bursted a long long time ago, we are struggling to lower CO2 levels, drought is affecting millions of people and here we are turning what could have been delicious watermelons into useless trash.

Please read the article! YOU CANNOT EAT THEM

Wanna bet? That's what they told me about bleach when I was six.

@hustle, it's just a decoration, like an ice sculpture. Think of all the margaritas going out UNFROZEN.

The fact they are so expensive is why people buy them. Status symbol to show off to the neighbors or an expensive ochuugen for someone you are trying to impress. If they were around 3,000 yen I bet no-one would bother.

Where I live, 10,000 yen gets you an allotment for four years. Plenty of time to learn to grow your own edible watermelons.

They look delicious and sweet. Only in Japan! And I guarantee all those 10,000¥ Watermelons will sell out. Further proof the Japanese economy is going from strength to strength!

LOL

why does one have to turn on the TV to watch boring manzai when there is interesting

comedy here on JT

My ribs are paining.

Please read the article! YOU CANNOT EAT THEM

Wanna bet? That's what they told me about bleach when I was six.

Not sure why but that bleach comment made me laugh.

What makes them inedible? Is it because they are grown in a plastic box?