RSS

Japanese Face Shaped Watermelon (and other weird shapes)

Fri, Aug 15, 2008

Food, In Japan

A year or two ago, Japanese square shaped watermelon were big in the news. Not only were they easier to ship, but they were more expensive too, and that catches anyone’s attention. Today, I read an article over at Megaijin, that talked about triangular shaped watermelon (even more expensive, but more difficult to ship, I imagine). This sparked my interest, so I decided to dive a little deeper. You’ll be amazed at the weird watermelon-related things I’ve come across!

Cube-Shaped Watermelon

First, let’s take a look at the original strange Japanese watermelon: “The Cube.” This was an expensive solution to the difficulty that people had putting a big round watermelon in their refrigerator (why refrigerate, though, I say eat it all!).

Supposedly, only around a 1000 of these are produced in a year, though I feel like that number may have increased. It’s garnered notoriety amongst the rich (as well as several visiting political figures), and is pretty darn expensive. As you can see above, 2008 version goes for around $119 USD, which is cheap compared to some of the other watermelons we’re going to get into. Who knows how much shipping will cost you. Here’s another photo, from Choo.

I really wonder how the square watermelons taste. Is it just the novelty of the shape that’s selling them, or are they particularly juicy? Either way, if I was Scrooge McDuck I’d definitely replace my simming pool of gold coins.

Oh yeahh, check out those photoshop skillz (sarcasm)

Heart Shaped Watermelon

So now we get a little more expensive, and a lot more useless. I suppose this could shape up (haha, get it?) to be an expensive romantic gift of some sort, but I think buying a week’s worth of baseball tickets would be more fun.

A heart-shaped watermelon will run you around $237 USD, a price that will end up breaking your…you know. I’d suggest saving your money and spending it on UFO catchers.

Pyramid and Triangle Shaped Watermelon

Now, here’s where I get a little confused. Let’s start with the Triangle shaped watermelon, because, apparently, there’s some sort of big difference between triangle and pyramid shapes. Aren’t they just different words for triangle?

These “triangle watermelon” will run you the same as a heart watermelon, around $237 USD. I’m not sure what the purpose of these watermelon are, besides the novelty. Square watermelons, sure, they ship nicer and are easier to put in the fridge. Triangle watermelon? They just seem hard to ship and hard to eat.

Now, how about the pyramid shaped ones? From what I can see, they are almost exactly the same. The only difference? The ridiculous price.

Ever considered paying $950 USD for a watermelon? Well, now’s your chance. They only make a few of these a year (which, I suppose, is why the price is so high?), and they look like crummier versions of the triangle watermelon, at least to my untrained watermelon eye. I dunno, what do you think? They better taste better, that’s for sure.

Face Shaped Watermelon

Here’s the one that you all came for. This is the most ridiculous watermelon I’ve ever seen, and I would never be alone in a dark room with this one.

This face-watermelon will cost you $475 USD, but, I mean, c’mon, it’s a face! It even has glasses on and a big smile, so you feel good when you eat through half your month’s rent. It’s a smile that says…”it’s okay, I still love you…even though you’re a dumb knee-biter for buying me.”

Looks like this one has a Hitler mustache!

How are these Watermelon Made?

Well, the face one is a secret process, apparently. Though it follows the same basic rules as the others. All they do is put a glass / plastic container around the small, baby watermelon, and it grows into the shape it’s put into. Cube shaped is put into a cube container, triangle into a triangle container, etc. They  do something extra fancy with the Hitler face though, but they aren’t willing to taddle their secrets.

If you’d like to get one of these watermelon for yourself, you can actually get them shipped to you overseas (maybe). Check out Rakuten’s Art Suika page and look for the English section somewhere in the middle. You might be able to order your own overpriced watermelon if you email them.

Vocab for this Article

Something I thought I’d try to do, since this is a website about learning Japanese culture and language. We’re going to include some vocabulary at the end of every news / culture related article to give you a chance to sponge some Japanese vocabulary as well. I mean, why not, right?

スイカ (suika)
Watermelon

果物 (Kudamono)
Fruit

三角 (Sankaku)
Triangle

四角 (shikaku)
Square

  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Fark
  • Mixx
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google
  • Technorati
  • Pownce
  • e-mail
  • Sphinn
  • Reddit

This post was written by:

koichi - who has written 108 posts on Tofugu.com.

Koichi is a cool frood that knows where his towel's at. He created Tofugu, and is currently working on a few other projects as well: Koichiben & BoxedTofu.

Contact the author

If you'd like to get immediate updates whenever we post something new, please subscribe to us via RSS! You can also get e-mail updates by clicking here.

Viewing 55 Comments

    • ^
    • v
    Pyramids have n-sided bases (often quadrilateral), while the "triangle" ones above are tetrahedra and are limited to triangular bases. That little extra bit of abstraction is still pricey ....
    • ^
    • v
    Yep... Koichi your description just made me shake my head.
    • ^
    • v
    c'mmonnnn, they're like the same thing! you crazy non-liberal arts studies majors you...
    • ^
    • v
    I Agree With Koichi, they look the same and wouldn't really make much of a difference
    • ^
    • v
    They don't look the same :) Better be corrected than be ignorant about it, I say.
    • ^
    • v
    They're still both triangles, though, right? (serious question, I don't know)

    $750 more for one extra side on my 3-d triangle is pretty tough on the wallet.
    • ^
    • v
    ummm tomato tamoto lol
    • ^
    • v
    No :) A triangle is a plane with three vertices. Maybe playing all that Jan-ken-pon during high school geometry class wasn't such a good idea.
    • ^
    • v
    uhhhhh fine - then, I don't see much of a difference between a pyramid and a tetrahedral. Not saying there *isn't* a difference, but the difference is so minimal, that a ~$750 difference isn't justified, though, I suppose my eye isn't as "trained" as yours (i.e., I sucked at geometry), but that price difference is ree-dee-kyu-lous.
    • ^
    • v
    The pyramid you are thinking of has 5 surfaces, one of which is square, rest being triangular. Tetrahedra has 4 surfaces, with all bases being triangular. A triangle is just single surface. So... a tetrahedra has one extra side or 25% more than a tetrahedral. I hate using that example, but it's to illustrate that the difference isn't 'so minimal'. And then there is a question about volume/capacity of the shapes, something I don't even want to get into.

    The price difference for the watermelons isn't something I can answer. It could be the method of production justify the pricing. The environment that it takes to achieve the shape is another factor. Do you need equipment to build the ideal environment? There is also the question on what is the success rate of achieving the shape. How many watermelons do you need to grow before you get one that is in the shape you want? Growing specialize watermelons extra cost money, so what do you do with all the duds that you wasted money on? The land you are growing in isn't cheap also. Would you trade off growing 20 regular shape watermelons (and price it at regular price) to take the risk and grow 1 pyramid shape (and price it higher) and throw out the 5/10/15 defects? For a country that values the shape of the watermelon, I think it'll be hard to fetch a decent return on ugly, defected watermelon. Then you have to consider the demand for such a shape. Just saying something simple such as "just having one extra side" to explain the cost increase, is well... isn't that simple. The cost increase is beyond geometry, it is all economics, from production to consumer demand. You say it isn't justified. I say it is. It is because the market is WILLING to pay for it. Why pay more for a Mercedes than a Toyota Camry? It is just car, correct? Why pay more for that Mercedes logo? Mercedes are a novelty, status symbol, are better engineered, etc. And the market is willing to pay for that. The same can be said about these novelty shaped fruit.

    Having said all of that, I think it is fairly obvious that the watermelon shapes are a novelty and this plays a big role in the price.

    And kids... This is what college does to you.
    • ^
    • v
    Not saying your wrong - I think you're right. There's more to it than just another side to the watermelon, you're right, I spoke too soon. Still, when it comes to these watermelons, there's a lot of gray area / stupid rich people involved into the equation, and there's just no way the real value of one of these watermelons justifies its $1000 price tag.

    Here's what it says on the site about the pyramid watermelon:

    1. The pyramids are made to order, and only 10-20 get ordered every year. (low supply? High demand? Hard to say, since they are made to order). Tetrahedral watermelon ARE on a supply basis, yet they are less expensive. Even if some watermelon did get deformed and weren't perfect in the process, I think the $1000 fee for a pyramid shaped watermelon will offset the cost of however many watermelon don't make it past a "perfection inspection." How much does it cost to grow a watermelon? Considering most watermelon are sold for under $10 (I'm guessing, here), you'd have to mess up a lot of watermelon.

    2. They don't taste good and are only for looks. Basically, it's a temporary decoration that lasts 1-3 months. I really feel like the pyramid watermelon are like the "I am rich" app on the iPhone (ha! Same price!). There might be a tiny market of people willing to pay for it (though, for "I am rich" it's mostly people who accidentally bought it), but I still don't think the price properly conveys it's actual value. Sure, they put a price on it, and that can be considered the market value - but how do you come up with it's real value when you can't calculate supply and demand? I feel like the profit on one of these watermelon is tremendous. It's tough because they do it only by order, and there doesn't seem to be a limit on the orders - though there *is* a limit on tetrahedral watermelon, and the price is much much lower. I don't get it. Oh wait, I do, it's Japan, and they do this all the time. This watermelon is just a status symbol, and I suppose that has value (or rather, the price dictates that it is a status symbol), but I doubt that one of these watermelons takes even half the selling price to make. I'm sure they tap their Mr. Burns fingers together when they get an order for one of these, and wonder how many more people out there are willing to order one of their prize watermelons. It's not that hard to make these ones - the face ones, yes, those mess up sometimes - but the pyramids? Much easier to make. Face ones are the hardest, they say, which makes even less sense, since it's half the price.

    Anyways, that was a really long round-about way of me saying that yes, you're right, but I still don't think the price of it is justified. On one hand, some people pay for it, yes, but I still don't think the profit margin properly represents the actual value of the pyramid watermelon. But, you're right, there are some people out there willing to pay for the novelty...dirty filthy rich people. It's so much like Japan to do something like this though, and charge ridiculous amounts of money on it AND get away with it without anyone noticing. There are so many times in Japan where something is bought for wayyy more than it's actual value - I suppose that's just how things work over there sometimes - Always someone who's willing to pay for something, ESPECIALLY if it's ridiculous. I still don't buy that the actual value of the watermelon is anywhere near the selling price of it, though, no matter how much they mess up (and I don't think they mess up all that much, though I'm sure there are 5-10 screw ups for every 1 good one).

    They should be giving me the watermelon money instead - I'll even dance. I feel like investing in that is just as poor of a decision as investing in a watermelon.

    I think we were arguing two different things. I don't think the actual value parallels the price of the watermelon, and you think the price of the watermelon is justified because people are willing to buy it...so, I suppose I agree with you on that? God, the 10-20 people a year who buy them...I'd like to meet these people. They seem...rich...and willing to part with their money quickly :)
    • ^
    • v
    I'll concede on the defect argument, but why does it even matter the profit margin is way about the actual market value? Is it ridiculous? Yes. But it can be done thanks to capitalism. The moment you cap the price, then that is out the door.

    I don't disagree on the assertion that actual value and the going price don't parallel with each other.

    Why do we even care how people spend the money they earn/have? Who dictates whats is waste and what isn't? (Communists?) It may be a waste of money in the eyes of you and myself, but to others it holds value. We may think the value is superficial, but again, it's their money. So what is the problem?

    I never said that difficulty in production is the majority of costs, as per your argument that the face watermelon is harder to make, but goes for less. I said that production is a factor, along with the demand for the shape.

    This phenomenon isn't unique to Japan. Westerners pay way above costs for liquor and wine. Some alcohol are only made in certain quantities, just like these watermelons. How about $200+ jeans? The materials certainly don't justify the cost. And certainly the third world workers that put it together don't justify it. A small population consume these goods, and this is exactly the same case with Japan.

    Comments are getting skinny.
    • ^
    • v
    suuppper skinny.
    yeah, I'll go with what you said. I'm only arguing actual price - everything else is, like you said, just my opinion on the matter. Like, for example, this guy's an idiot for spending money on these grapes:

    http://www.jamaipanese.com/index.php?itemid=709

    Mostly, I Just want his money instead...

    I wonder how much skinnier these will get, or if this is the max skinny
    • ^
    • v
    By far, the most heated, in depth discussion about pyramid/triangle shaped watermelons available on the internet.
    • ^
    • v
    yup!
    • ^
    • v
    alllll right people. no more commenting to see if it gets skinnier. It does, and then the text starts overlapping itself, and things might break.
    • ^
    • v
    lol

    we're
    shaping the
    T
    E
    X
    T
    should it
    also be
    expensive
    now?
    • ^
    • v