Japan’s Weird-Looking Watermelon Can Cost You More Than $200
You can choose from square, pyramid, or heart-shaped watermelons.
Japan is unique in so many ways. From high-tech toilets to extravagant love hotels, they are unlike any other country in the world. Even when it comes to fruits like watermelon, they are one step ahead of the rest. Do you know that they changed the shape of the watermelon from round to square, pyramid, or heart?
I don’t know whether the watermelon god is angry or not, but this is crazy stuff. And Japan always loves to do such crazy things and it doesn’t fit into any boxes.
Today, we will talk about Japanese weird-looking watermelons and the reasons why they are fascinated with them.
So, let’s dive in!
The Man Behind Japan’s Square-Shaped Watermelons
This genius(!) idea came from a graphic designer named Tomoyuki Ono. He invented cube or square-shaped watermelons in 1978. But why did he do that?
Well, the intention was to fit watermelons in the fridge more compactly. Another reason was to be able to cut them into pieces without rolling.
Anyway, Tomoyuki presented this unusual square-shaped watermelon in a gallery in Ginza, Tokyo, in 1978. Later, he applied and received a patent for this from the USA.
Why Japan Started Loving Square-Shaped Watermelons
Believe it or not, Japan’s grocery stores are much smaller than other countries. So, you can easily imagine they must be very efficient while using the minimum space they have. But round watermelons take a lot of space, and they are not that manageable as well.
So, the solution Tomoyuki came up with sparked the fire, and Japanese farmers and grocery people loved it.
Square-shaped watermelons are easy to carry and manage in small spaces. They are also a good fit for fridges. That’s why fashionable customers got attracted to its unusual shape and started buying it.
Now, people also buy square-shaped, heart-shaped, pyramid-shaped watermelons and gift others. I hope you know that it’s customary for Japanese people to give fruits as a gift.
How to Make a Round-Shaped Watermelon Square-Shaped
Well, it’s not at all as difficult as it sounds. All you need is a square tempered glass box. And when your watermelon is very tiny, you need to place the glass box around the watermelon. The watermelon will grow and eventually take the shape of the container.
You may ask why glass box? It’s because sunlight can easily reach the watermelons through the glass box.
Are Square-Shaped Watermelons Expensive?
Of course, they are. I mean, they are sometimes two to three times expensive than the round ones. But if you expect something out-of-the-world taste from your square watermelon, you will be disappointed for sure.
An ExamHealth article mentions that the fruits are not tasty. Though watermelon has many known health benefits, when you mess with mother nature to make it cubed or heart-shaped, you lose the taste.
They become less tasty because square-shaped watermelons are not given the proper amount of time to become mature.
Anyway, wealthy customers are there to buy this fashionable version of watermelons at a high price. That’s why even a non-edible squared watermelon is sold for $100. And a perfectly square-shaped watermelon can be sold for up to $200 or more.
To Conclude
Japan never fails to fascinate us. They love to do things in a different way. When they do it, the rest of the world follows.
Now, Japan’s square-shaped watermelons have become popular in many parts of the world. So, don’t be surprised if you visit a European country and suddenly encounter this weird-looking watermelons.
Thank you for reading.
If you want to know more about Japan and its culture, you may read the following articles of mine.
- Things You Should Never Do in Japan
- Japan’s Toilets Have More Features Than Your iPhone
- Japan’s Love Hotels: A Secret Love-Making Place for Adults
- Will Japan Become a Country Full Of Aged People by 2045?
- Why Japanese Men Are Replacing Women with Holograms and Sex-Dolls
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