Japan exports watermelons to UAE for 1st time

Saturday 14th June, 05:03 AM JST

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Latest 15 of 19 Total Comments Show All

some14some at 11:18 AM JST - 14th June

The actual export price may not me more than Y300, either over-invoicing or kickback !
capone at 11:26 AM JST - 14th June

japan just hoping to prove that there are bigger suckers in the world than they are...almost impossible
Betting at 06:26 PM JST - 14th June

A while ago I walked into Isetan in Shinjuku and saw some Australian mangoes for 2000 yen each. I laughed because you can buy them in Oz for a couple of hundred yen each I think.

I just can not fathom why people pay so much here for fruit and vegetables. I honestly believe the Japanese have been nearly brainwashed into thinking certains foods here are "premium" and are worth every penny, it's hilarious.
presto345 at 07:11 PM JST - 14th June

japan just hoping to prove that there are bigger suckers in the world

They are not hoping anything of the kind, and I find the statement offensive. But what could I expect from ... The Japanese have found a niche in the market. Good for them. The filthily rich in the UAE have a very different conception of money. They actually can afford to throw it around and still can see no way to spend it all. It keeps accumulating. To them a 30,000 yen watermelon is the same as a 50 yen icecream here. That is OK with me. It helps to redistribute some of the wealth building up there.
tclh at 09:10 PM JST - 14th June

These mega-bucks ,filthy riches in UAE will have satisfaction of tasting the kind of watermelons in knowing that many billionss people of this planet can only shake their heads in disbelief.
borscht at 09:40 PM JST - 14th June

I met a billionaire once. He spent his money very carefully. Always looking for value vs 'fad' or 'brand.' Sure, he bought a BMW for cash but he kept the car for about 12 years. Longer than your average consumer.

These melons, if priced as such, may well find a niche market amongs the super-rich for awhile but sooner or later their cooks (the people who actually buy the food) will pocket the difference and buy an ordinary melon. No one will know.
rjd_jr at 10:37 PM JST - 14th June

Amen presto, same concept as stores here selling 200 dollar t shirts. If there's a market sell it. Simple as that.
some14some at 11:45 PM JST - 14th June

Probably "First and Last shipment" !
serindipity at 12:51 AM JST - 15th June

Ya can buy watermelons for a dollar each from roadside stalls on the highways in Australia. I could only imagine a struggling Aussie farmer's reaction to this story.
The_Marion at 09:33 AM JST - 15th June

Maybe the watermelon is one of those "black" melons mentioned in Japan Today's column a week or so ago.
GW at 10:55 PM JST - 15th June

In this day and age, anybody selling or buying a 30.000 melon should be shot.

And you know WHATED ON! ha haha
damexicanbuda at 11:46 PM JST - 15th June

If you try to sell a watermelon for 30,00 yen in Mexico you would make the front page news! A headline would say, this rich idiot just bought a watermelon that costs 1,000 times the price a an average watermelon but with just a slightly better taste! Idiots! Millions of people are starving around the world who would just be happy to eat the watermelon skins out of a heap of rotting garbage! Shame on these rich ignorant heartless 30,000 yen/1 watermelon eaters!
rajakumar at 08:11 PM JST - 16th June

UAE owes Japan, a favour now. They need to export back to japan, 54 UAE watermelons .
Notginger at 01:01 PM JST - 17th June

UAE has just been listed as a top terrorist black spot - maybe they'll attack the foreign watermelon sellers. Probably the only fools in UAE willing to by sanman watermelons are Japanese expats. I hope to see a thriving business in fake watermelons soon.
rajakumar at 10:07 PM JST - 17th June

UAE owes Japan 54 watermelons . Fake high costs mellons business may, become new business with japanese expats.

What happen to water melon business,why is it ,so difficult, to decently sell branded genuine, 30,000 yen melons.

May be same story like in fake rolex business and genuine rolex business, both doing well with much support from their clients.