That Japan is a differentiated country that everyone already knows! But did you also know that the most expensive fruits in the world are found in Japan! And square watermelon?! Have you seen? In Japan too.
The differential of these fruits is in the Japanese tradition of bearing fruit as a gift and complex and rigorous cultivation. They have the concept of “perfect fruit”. So you will always see them bright, with few seeds and very large.
Let's start by talking about the square watermelon which is undoubtedly very different.
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Japan's Square Watermelon
The watermelon or "suika" (西瓜) is a very popular summer fruit in Japan. It is even common to see people playing with watermelons on the beaches. This game is called suikawari (スイカ割り). Basically, someone blindfolded tries to smash the watermelon with a bat. But, something that also catches a lot of attention is the various shapes of watermelons cultivated in Japan. They range from round watermelons, triangular ones, and even heart-shaped ones.
The square watermelon has been around for over forty years in Japan, but its expansion around the world is only about fifteen years old. It was created by the farmers of Shikoku (currently where it produces more square watermelons), but mainly by the farmer Takashi Yamashita.
The idea of leaving the watermelon in this format was because round fruits, especially when larger ones take up more space on the shelves, can roll and fall. It in this format facilitates storage.
To get these shapes, the common watermelon is placed inside a glass box during the growth phase. But this caused it to lose some of the sugar present in this fruit, becoming a product of decorative purpose as it has a longer storage period compared to a common watermelon.
The price of a square watermelon can vary widely, but the average is over 13,000 yen. The fruit is sold in expensive department stores and supermarkets in Tokyo and Osaka.
Because of the ease of changing the shape of the fruit, other shapes have recently emerged in Japan such as triangular, heart and even scarecrow's head.
The heart-shaped watermelon appeared for more festive dates like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. But since it is a more unique shape, it costs at least about 3,000 yen more than the square one.
The cultivation and trade of square watermelon
A cultivation technique was developed by the japoneses. In the growth phase, the fruit is placed in a type of form or mold, usually made of glass. This forces them to grow and take the desired shape. This technique took years of practice and testing, even with other fruits, like melão. In Brazil, square watermelons have been produced for a few years now. Even though it is a risky bet, producers say that the reception of this new product exceeded expectations.
Due to these changes in the fruit's nature, some changes in the essence of the watermelon are notable. In pursuit of perfection, square watermelons often lose their sweet flavor. This led to an increase in the trade of square watermelons for decorative purposes. They can be preserved for approximately one and a half years. They soon became a luxury item and a sophisticated gift.
The various forms of Japanese watermelon
But of course the Japanese would not be satisfied with producing only square-shaped watermelons. Over time, various shapes emerged, and some of them are quite different. The heart-shaped ones took 3 years to reach the perfect shape. And these are sold for at least 250 dollars.
There are also watermelons in triangular or pyramid shapes. There are also watermelons called "ゴジラの卵" (you can imagine that this one is quite big), and they even come in a special box. Watermelons are sold in the shape and decoration of dynamite and in the form of a gourd. And the most unusual is the "スイカ人面" or "watermelon face human" which costs 50,000 yen or more.
The most expensive Japanese fruits in the world
Japan is known for having extremely expensive fruits, but it is worth mentioning that this is not the case for all fruits, but for special fruits that we will see in the list below.
We also recommend reading our article about the preços das frutas e verduras nos mercados do Japão to have a realistic understanding of the prices and not a generalized idea due to the more expensive fruits in Japan.
1 - Yubari Melon
This melon looks like a work of art! Besides being perfectly round, it has a pattern that resembles an ancient marble. This fruit is cultivada em Hokkaido. It costs on average 300 dollars, but it has been auctioned for as much as 27 thousand dollars.
The melon is very sweet and has a very thin skin which makes the fruit not only beautiful but also very tasty.
When it was purchased for $27,000, the bid was from a company to celebrate a positive year.
2 - Tuby Roman Grapes
These grapes are from Ishikawa and already draw attention just for the size that is more or less of a ping pong ball, weighing around 20 grams. It is the most expensive grape in the world.
The Roman grape, besides being very beautiful, is very sweet and tasty. A bunch is on average 65 dollars.
In 2016 a bunch of these grapes was purchased for $10,900.
3 - Densuke black watermelon
This watermelon is from Hokkaido and stands out for being perfectly round, black, shiny and without stripes on the skin and very smooth. The taste is very sweet and costs an average of 250 dollars. But it has already sold for $6,100.
Her production throughout the year is very limited in Hokkaido with 100 watermelons being produced. As it is very special, it is usually requested for weddings and must be well in advance.
4 - Tayou-No-Tamago manga
These Manga are tastier than the common ones we know because they are sweeter, softer and larger in size. They are perfect in their shape and are patterned.
These sleeves weigh 350 grams and were once sold for 3,662 for the Tamago two-pack.
5 - square watermelon
The watermelon that we talk about throughout this article is also usually quite expensive.
6 - Strawberry Senbikiya Queen
These strawberries, apparently when you only look at them, look like they have nothing special, but they, like the others, are rigorously harvested to select the most perfect ones.
A dozen of these strawberries cost $69 and you can find them at the Sembikiya luxury fruit parlor in Tokyo.
7 - Sekai Ichi Apples
These apples look like the ones in the movie they are so big and shiny. They weigh up to 2 kilograms. And the belief is that they can only be eaten on special occasions.
Each apple like this costs 21 dollars.
8 - decode
Decopom is a mixture of orange and tangerine. They are believed to be the tastiest citrus fruits in the world. Their flavor is a mixture of sweet, slightly acidic and thin buds.
The Decopom unit costs 13 dollars. We also recommend reading our article discussing frutas e vegetais no idioma japonês.
Diversity of Japanese fruits in anime
It's impossible for you to watch an anime and not see that fruits are always present on their menus. Watermelon as one of the most consumed fruits in Japan and considered the fruit of summer, is more present.
In the anime called Love Hina, there is a character named Mustumi who holds a square watermelon with the greatest ease, leaving this aspect of ease because of the format in evidence.
Which of these fruits are you curious to try? Did you like the article? Interested in any of these watermelons and fruits? Leave your comments and share with friends.