Japanese Businessman Buys a Pair Of Premium Melons For $30,000
By Ryan General
A wealthy businessman paid nearly $30,000 melons for a pair of premium melons in a bid to impress his customers during Japan’s gift-giving season.
The fruit is reportedly regarded as a status symbol in the country, where even ordinary fruits are known to be relatively expensive, according to Mainichi News.
Sold to a fruit packing company executive for a record ¥3.2 million ($29,400) at an auction in Sapporo Central Wholesale Market, the melons came from Yubari, a city in Hokkaido, which is famous for its high-end fruit.
In an interview with the local press, Hokuyu Pack president Shinya Noda said he wanted to make a record-setting bid to celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary.
Japanese business owners start buying for the country’s natsu no gifuto (summer gift season) in late spring, intended to be given away to customers.
It has been a tradition for many business owners who seek to attract customers or those who simply want social prestige to spend large amounts of money during seasonal fruit offerings.
Noda’s bid was significantly high, which is more than double last year’s winning bid of ¥1.5 million ($13,800) and the record of ¥3 million ($27,500) back in 2016.
The pricey fruits, which were among the 507 melons auctioned from eight Yubari farmers on Saturday, will be first put on display at Hokuyu Pack before its pieces are given away to customers a month later.
Featured image via YouTube / ANNnewsCH
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