Idol Elections, Terrorism Arrests, Pricey Watermelon, And More [Sunday News]

by 10 Comments

Every Sunday we gather the week’s weird and interesting Japanese news and present it to you in our Sunday News column. It might not always be hard-hitting news, but we hope that it still informs and entertains you. Enjoy!

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[twocol_one]Yuuko OoshimaYuko Oshima ranks 1st in AKB48 poll: Idol group AKB48 held one of its elections to find out who fans most like, and who gets to appear on the group’s next single. Given how insanely popular AKB48 is, I wouldn’t be surprised if voter turnout higher was than that national elections. Little known fact: the winner of the AKB48 elections becomes next in line to become the Japanese prime minster. [via News On Japan][/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]Orenoyome – Pinterest for Otaku: For months now, Pinterest has been the next up-and-coming social networking site. Now otaku get a website of their own to post pictures of their interests; although, unlike Pinterest, this site (俺の嫁を自慢するサイト, or “Site to show off my wife”) will involve otaku posting pictures of their body pillows and figurines. Word is still out whether or not Michelle Obama will join. You know she’s a huge otaku![/twocol_one_last]

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[twocol_one]Last Aum Fugitive Captured: This year’s Japan news seems to be all Aum, all the time. After two earlier arrests this year (one of which I wrote about), the last of the Aum cultists who took part in the 1995 Tokyo subway attacks has been arrested. Now they await trial and we’ll see if these three will join their leader on death row.[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]Black skin watermelon from Tomachou sold at 300,000 yen: In Japan, melons have always been extremely valuable, so it’s no surprise that a recent harvest went for a high price. The shocker is exactly how much one melon went for – ¥300,000, or about $3,900 USD. It’s always fun imagining what you could buy with insane amounts of money, but for some reason, fruit never really crossed my mind.Densuke watermelon[/twocol_one_last]

  • J.

    If I had $3,900 USD, I WOULDN’T buy a watermelon. I’d buy watermelon seeds. ;)

  • Tora.Silver

    This is crazy. My mom was mistakenly charged $49 USD at a market for a watermelon, and we thought that was insane. Clearly, we got a bargain.

  • Gentlementleman

    AKB48? … MUST CLICK NOW!

  • Adam.kintaro

    I’ve had a $30 peach from Japan. One peach, thirty dollars. I thought, as I took the bite, that the price was outrageous and unnecessary. I was completely wrong. I can still taste that beautiful moment in my mouth. Anytime I see expensive Japanese fruit I will wonder if it really needs to be that expensive or if it really is priced perfectly.

  • ですこ

     Well, they are a LOT tastier. And, um, inside of watermelons.

  • http://twitter.com/shollum Shollum

     Yeah, but the seeds in fruits you buy from the store don’t always germinate since the plants aren’t meant to reproduce (this keeps the harvests more consistent).

    Hurray for absurd yet brilliant investment strategies!

  • ですこ

     I’ve been buying all those watermelons for NO REASON?! D:

  • http://www.tofugu.com/ Hashi

    I think that’s the idea behind 99% of Japanese ad campaigns.

  • HokkaidoKuma

    $3,900 for a set of  melons?  Sounds about right to me.  Though I may not comment much on the news, keep up the great work Hashi.  I read all of these articles.

  • http://twitter.com/shollum Shollum

     Of course you bought them for no reason! Watermelons have too much water and not enough melon!
    Cantaloupe for life!