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often overlooked in the luxury food sector
command a surprising presence with their hefty price tags
Japan's Yubari King Melon and the UK's Lost Gardens of Heligan Pineapple stand out
fetching prices up to $30,000 and $1,500 respectively
This list showcases the pinnacle of fruit luxury:
At the zenith of this list is the Yubari King Melon from Japan
a fruit celebrated for its aesthetic appeal and taste
Following closely are the Ruby Roman Grapes from Ishikawa Prefecture
known for their stringent selection criteria
offer unique experiences for those willing to indulge in their high prices
Source: Jagran Josh
FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com
our minds often wander to high-end restaurants and gourmet cuisines
there's a surprising contender in the world of expensive edibles - fruits
Certain fruits can come with a hefty price tag
we're shedding light on this unexpected category and exploring the most expensive fruits globally
Get ready to discover the crème de la crème of the fruit world
ALSO READ| Top 10 Most Expensive Luxury Cars of 2024
The world's most luxurious fruits redefine the culinary landscape
Japan's coveted Yubari King Melon ($20,000) and the UK's exclusive Lost Gardens of Heligan Pineapple ($1500) are the epitome of gastronomic excess
offering an unparalleled taste experience for those who crave the finer things in life
These exotic and rare fruits can cost thousands of dollars
the steep price is well worth it when you consider eating one is a once-in-a-lifetime experience
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At the top of the list is a fruit that hails from Japan: the Yubari King Melon
this melon is often considered an "aesthetic fruit" and offers a remarkable treat for the taste buds
it holds the record as one of the most expensive fruits in the world
a pair of Yubari King Melons sold for an astonishing $30,000 (over Rs 24 lakh)
Next on the list are the Ruby Roman Grapes
regarded as the second most expensive fruit in the world
these exceptional grapes also originate from Japan
They are carefully chosen based on strict criteria
a bunch of these grapes fetched a price of $8,400 (over Rs 6 lakh)
securing their place among the most luxurious fruits globally
It seems Japan has a penchant for luxury fruits
as the third most expensive fruit also comes from this island nation
one was sold for an impressive $6,100 (over Rs 5 lakh)
earning it a spot in the exclusive 'luxury food club.' They are particularly cherished for their exceptional sweetness
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Located in the St-Paul Hotel on McGill Street
Yubari is a stunning restaurant offering Japanese cuisine with a French twist
you’ll be captivated by the beautiful décor that blends modernity with traditional Japanese elements
The high ceilings highlight impressive structures lining the walls
while leopard print velvet banquettes and dim umbrella-shaped lights add a touch of elegance
The abundant wood creates a warm atmosphere
A long 10-seat bar provides a view of an impressive selection of spirits or the sushi bar
you can comfortably settle among the 100 available seats in the dining room
whether for a romantic evening or a dinner with colleagues or friends
Chef Willy Do has crafted a menu that celebrates freshness and quality
his cuisine incorporates French influences and flavors from other Asian countries
the chef skillfully combines the Japanese mentality of selecting the best ingredients with the complementary flavors that Vietnamese cuisine is known for
The delectable menu offers a wide array of options: dumplings
The prices for sushi range from $13 to $105 for a few pieces
placing Yubari in a relatively high price range
this pricing is justified by the exceptional quality of the ingredients used
you’ll find an excellent selection of signature cocktails with Asian influences and bold flavors
We’re highlighting Yubari because it’s a great addition to the neighborhood with impeccable service
It’s an ideal place to visit if you want to treat yourself and celebrate
With a DJ on-site from Thursday to Saturday
it’s perfect for a festive evening with friends
offering an excellent option for business lunches
Enjoy your meal!
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named the third best new restaurant in Canada by En Route magazine
We’ve put together a list of all good spots where you can find it to enjoy at home or in a restaurant
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A pair of melons grown in Yubari in Hokkaido
fetched 3 million yen at the first auction of the season in Sapporo on Friday
The auction was held at at the Sapporo City Central Wholesale Market from 7 a.m.
a melon packaging and sales company in Yubari
“I want to revitalize Yubari and hope people all over Japan will enjoy the sweet melons.'' He said Yubari melons will be given away for free to the first 200 customers at his company's office on June 1st and 2nd
According to the Yubari City Agricultural Cooperative
89 melon growers are expected to ship a total of 3,219 tons
with sales expected to be around 1.92 billion yen
The highest price ever paid for a pair of Yubari melons at an auction was 5 million yen in 2019
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“Dystopian end-stage capitalism repackaged as feel-good stories”
The collective Japanese psyche refuses to leave the bubble period
Is the thinking that one of these melons offers a 1.5 million yen experience
melons seem to be all the rage in the Japan Today news cycle in recent times
Not that I don't mind a pair of nice firm ones
Nothing premium about those melons except the price
Seems a bit odd that it would take the annual net salary of a conbini worker to buy this pair....
The tax loophole allowing a pair of fruits to sell for 3 million needs closing
I got mine for 700 yen at Hanamasa and it was sweet juicy and tender
Wonder if there is that much of a difference
they are obviously not going to sell crates of these at ¥3,000,000 a pair
000 the producers of these melons get national and international coverage
This story will be picked up by many news organizations around Japan and the world
In Japan the notion of buying and eating melons has been implanted
“I want to revitalize Yubari and hope people all over Japan will enjoy the sweet melons.''
The loophole is someone buying two melons for ¥3 million when the real value is less than ¥50,000
There should be a limit to what people can file for when buying these items
What people do with their money is their business
Even if it's result of a tax loop hole I'm not sure who is truely benefiting from this sale
In any case just feels like a nothing burger and not news to me
Just like how if I decide to splurge on something I particularly like shouldn't be news to others
People buy them to give to other people (mostly bigwigs
Good chance these two famous melons wont be eaten - just displayed in a glass cabinet
The melon packaging company that paid this money will recoup the cost many
It's the JT comments section so I'm not surprised that people are tripping over each other to voice their disapproval
A company might pay ¥3M for a commercial segment on the national news on one channel
now they can be assured that they will be mentioned DURING the national news on ALL channels
When will the Japanese government step in a have this website closed?!
Governments can't do that in democratic countries
What I am most interested in though is the assertion that this got meaningful "international coverage"
I suspect the international media are bored with this
If they bothered to find out that the melons are grown over winter (average outside temp for Dec to Feb is minus 5.6C) in superheated polytunnels
I doubt Western media would be so keen on acting as patsies handing out valuable free promotion
Any news outlet supposedly keen on reporting on climate issues would probably want to comment on the heating bill
https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_3m.php?prec_no=15&block_no=0049&year=&month=&day=&view=
The idea of growing melons over winter in Hokkaido is very artificial and denies the Japanese central claim of eating "shun no mono" (seasonal food)
Capitalism drives prices down to their costs
Maybe it makes some people feel good but it has nothing to do with capitalism
Americans blow money on cocaine and fentanyl
So you will acknowledge that blowing wads on impermanent items is not setting a good example for people
it is covered as an 'expense' under the 'advertising
the cost of business expenses is borne by the whole country
These melons or similar are so ‘popular’ that I picked a discounted one up the other day at 400 yen
obtain way more than Y3m in media publicity without breaking the new govt
rule the JT mentioned on here some time ago that banned the presentation of products as news items
I think the only people that would waste that kind of money are the Chinese
they love expensive things thinking it means and equates to quality
I'm happy to sell you a couple of melons for ¥3 million
You can enjoy the "benefits" of this "loophole" too
The shop price for Yubari melons is ¥30,000 to ¥50,000 each
A perfect example as to why regular people hate rich people
you can sell whatever you want for however much or little you want
If you have a seller and a buyer who agree on the price
You seem to think that the person who spends ¥3 million on a couple of melons is cheating the system
then they can only write off an amount equal to the maximum allowable amount (in some cases it would be zero - so not a tax write off)
But even if they are able to deduct the entire 3 million yen
the SELLER has now made 3 million yen in sales which he must report and pay taxes on
If you have a seller and a buyer who agree on the price
You seem to think that the person who spends ¥3 million on a couple of melons is cheating the system
Claiming ¥3 million tax for a pair of melons worth no more than ¥100,000
some items are bought but can't be claimed against taxes in full
But even if they are able to deduct the entire 3 million yen
The seller can also claim expenses and overheads so it will be much less than ¥3 million
How many new tires for SUV's could be purchased with that money
Keeping people alive and productive is more important than SUVs
The seller is claiming those expenses anyway
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Montreal
Expertly crafted cocktails with an Asian twist
This sophisticated new restaurant has all of it and more
Chef Willy Do—head chef at Yubari in Old Montreal—is serving up authentic
elegant Japanese cuisine with Asian and French influences.
The sushi restaurant’s name is inspired by the rich culinary heritage of Yūbari
a town situated on Japan's Hokkaidō island famed for its succulent Yubari King melons
Once you’ve stepped inside the chic, dimly-lit restaurant nestled inside the St-Paul Hotel (the very first boutique hotel in Canada)
and the design—created by Italo Di Pietro of Anonymous Concepts and brought to life by Rémi Rondeau—absolutely charms
a sleek bar and glamorous chic leopard print benches that create a serene
intimate setting with some playful touches
specializes in dishes that balance flair and classic
Marrying fresh ingredients flown in from Japan and a culinary journey that pays homage to the essence of Japan
Yubari’s dishes are a fusion of originality and global flavours
And we haven’t even talked about the impeccable sake
The Japanese Slipper (an intoxicating mix of Roku
sesame and spicy chillies to the mini wagyu burger (hello
you can expect a parade of exceptional starters
The fall-of-the-bone braised short ribs with garlic
coriander and teriyaki tasted as good as it looked
namely the masterfully plated sashimi (which started as a feast for the eyes) that was also melt-in-your-mouth
The impossibly delicious maki selection was topped by the furusato
kimchi sauce and unagi that we first munched whole—and then cheekily separated the foie gras and wagyu from the cucumber
Because our eyes were bigger than our stomachs
we were unable to try the fried rice with crab
oyster sauce—highly recommended by one of our favourite gals about town—so see you again soon
For more information about Yubari, click here
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But it's not the only eye-wateringly expensive fruit on the market
Read on to see some of the most expensive fruits you can find – some even more costly than a car
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This single strawberry has recently taken the internet by storm
Erewhon is currently selling this fruit shipped from Kyoto
The Erewohn strawberry is available for sale in this bespoke container and even comes with a QR code for instructions on how to eat it and will set you back $31.50
this single strawberry costs around 10 times what a punnet of strawberries would set you back at an Aussie supermarket
At Woolworths a 250g punnet will cost you $3
But this isn't the only fruit with a crazy price tag
This may look just like a rockmelon but it comes with a very different price tag
This is a Yubari King Melon which can only be produced in the Yubari region of Hokkaido
These melons are known to retail in shopping centres for around $200-$300
but top-tier ones can fetch staggering prices at auction
A pair of the specialty grown melons grown in the region recently fetched 3 million yen (approx
a record was set in 2019 when a pair of Yubari King Melons sold for 5 million yen (approx
Ruby Roman grapes are a specialty red grape variety cultivated and marketed in the Ishikawa Province of Japan
Each grape is carefully inspected and the variety gained popularity for its unique taste and appearance
To be qualified as Ruby Romans they need to have exactly 18 per cent sugar and weigh 20 grams
They may look like an unassuming fruit but they can set you back anywhere between $1000 and $15,000
This gigantic watermelon is another specialty from Hokkaido
It's a Densuke Watermelon which has a darker rind than a regular watermelon and is known for being very sweet.
The highest quality Densuke watermelons tend to go to auction with buyers bidding thousands
when one of the rare fruit sold for 650,000 yen (approx
The shape of this watermelon may raise an eyebrow but it's nothing in comparison to the cost.
Cube watermelons are commonly sold in Japan and are usually used as ornaments rather than a treat and can boast a hefty price tag
The rare fruit is made in Japan and shaped into cubes by artificial molds
They can usually be purchased for between $100 and $200
This price isn't quite as high as the Densuke watermelons but when you consider a normal shaped watermelon is only $15
These apples look just like Fuji apples but they will set you back a pretty penny
These are Sekai Ichi Apples which are some of the largest in the world
They are known to be quite mild in flavour as opposed to the sweeter versions you tend to find in the supermarket
These apples command a premium price tag and can set you back around $30 each (a similar price tag to the single strawberry available at Erewhon)
Now these aren't quite as expensive as the Erewhon strawberry but they will surely put a dent into those savings
These eye-catching berries are known a White Jewel Strawberries and are a very luxurious fruit in Japan
For one single berry you can expect to pay $15 for one single berry
That means a punnet of 20 strawberries would set you back $300.
Gourmet
Yubari melon is a luxury melon that can only be eaten during the summer season
with its bright orange flesh and sweetness that fills your mouth with happiness when you bite into one
Yubari City Yubari City Tourism Site JA Yubari CityHome pageNet store Furusato Tax PaymentFurusato Choice
Yubari melon" is a well-known specialty of Yubari City
It is such a luxury brand melon that there is probably no one who does not know its name
but there are probably not many people who know more about this melon
there are 102 Yubari melon growers in Yubari
the seeds are sown in small batches over a period of three months
he is able to ship the seeds stably over the three-month period and distribute the workload
It is Yubari's style to plant the seedlings about one month after sowing
The Yubari melon is a very precious fruit that is produced by the "hands" of its growers from cultivation to harvesting and inspection
and its "deliciousness" is the result of their efforts
you can understand why the price is so high
and you will want to eat it while expressing your gratitude to the growers
Yubari melons are the result of such passionate efforts
and we hope you will try them next summer at your local farm
Yubari City ■Yubari City Tourism Site ■JA Yubari CityHome pageNet store Furusato Tax PaymentFurusato Choice
[7 minutes walk from Sapporo Station] Enjoy hot springs
A comfortable stay at the 605-room "Sapporo Hotel by Granbell"
Running a "Neo Community Center" where people and things from Kushiro come together | Kotoe Kimura recommends three "special things" in Kushiro
[2025 Latest] Top 15 ramen shops in Sapporo recommended by locals
The hot soup with the aroma of dried sardines will soak in your mouth
Try the "Eifukucho-style Chinese noodles" at "Daikokuken" in Nanae-cho
Sapporo's lunch buffet (5) Not only the food
but the view and service are also top-notch
The ever-evolving classic buffet JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo Restaurant & Bar "SKY J"
It looks delicious!" Did you know that in Sapporo
you can only get "Rokkatei's fresh cakes" at their directly managed stores?
Seasonal “news” of Hokkaido can be checked by category
You can check the information of your “town” in one place
Events” held throughout the province are easy to find and can be saved
This page has been automatically translated by Google Translate service
Known in its heyday as the capital of coal
Yubari has lost 90% of its population in 50 years
are there lessons for rustbelt cities around the world
Few cities in the developed world can have been put as comprehensively through the wringer as Yubari
on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido and known in its heyday as the capital of coal
From a peak of just shy of 120,000 people in 1960
Yubari’s population plummeted to 21,000 in 1990
the year the last colliery closed and the last miners fled
as those who stayed on aged and died or drifted away in the wake of the city’s tumultuous 2007 bankruptcy
with a median age of 57 in 2010 that is set to rise to 65 by 2020
at which time more people will be over 80 than under 40
making Yubari perhaps the world’s first pensioner-majority city
The population is still falling precipitously
with barely one in 20 of the population under the age of 15 – about a dozen people die in Yubari for every child born
Yubari has the most onerous debt burden and close to the weakest finances of any Japanese city
while its bureaucrats and mayor draw the lowest salaries (about £18,000 in the mayor’s case)
per capita taxable income fell by nearly a third
Seven years after the bankruptcy and five since my last visit
for much has changed – not all for the worse
of which Yubari (like much of Japan) had far too many
have been consolidated into a single elementary
The wherewithal has somehow been found to build two tracts of considerately single-storey public housing
Jobs have been created with the arrival of a Chinese herbal medicine factory
And Japan’s oldest city in 2011 elected the country’s youngest mayor: the dashing and energetic Naomichi Suzuki
who had just turned 30 on election and who has come to relish his role as PR costermonger-in-chief for Yubari produce
Were there lessons in the Yubari experience for other devastated resource-dependent or single-industry cities – cities like Detroit – which followed its now minuscule Japanese cousin into bankruptcy last year
View image in fullscreenThe remains of an electrical goods store in the Yubari district of Nanbu
which has lost one quarter of its population in the past five years Photograph: Richard HendyAn epochal national event had occurred in the five years I had been away
Japan’s population began unambiguously to drop
making the nation the first and so far only important developed country with a declining population
Close to 85% of municipalities in Japan are shrinking
compared to fewer than than 5% of local authorities in England and Wales
Demography is front-page news in Japan: alarmism reached feverish levels this spring with the publication of a report asserting that more than half of Japan’s municipalities are “at risk of extinction” by 2040
as their numbers of reproductive-age women halve versus 2010 – or in Yubari’s case
fall by 85% to just 100 such women in 2040
This makes Yubari fascinating as the demographic canary in the Japanese
who led the post-bankruptcy downsizing of Yubari’s only hospital into a clinic (before he was disgraced in a bizarre love triangle-cum-attempted murder incident)
describes contemporary Yubari as a “microcosm of Japan in 2050”
he exaggerates only mildly: by around 2060
the over-65s are projected to account for four out of every 10 Japanese – a ratio Yubari reached about a decade ago
city authorities – confronted by the imminent demise of the city’s backbone industry and pumped up by febrile talk of Japan as an emergent lifestyle superpower and oblivious to Yubari’s frigid climate (the mean annual temperature is below 6°C and the city is snowbound half the year) – threw in their lot with the fickle deity of tourism and built a vast Coal History Village theme park
such as a roller coaster and giant ferris wheel; some more outré ones
such as a World Stuffed Animal House; and plenty whose purpose cannot be fathomed from their names alone – roller luge
View image in fullscreenThe dilapidated remains of Adventure Slider Kilimanjaro
part of the Coal History Village theme park that closed in 2006 Photograph: Richard HendyThe theme park staggered on for years with backhander subsidies from the city before going belly up in 2006
the odd family still strolled the carcass of the park
with the facilities in an even more pronounced stage of decay
my only companion was an aggressive male stonechat
pounding out a chek-chek-chek in defence of his territory from the intruder
Yubari’s other claim to fame is its eponymous cantaloupe melon
The first pair of the season this year fetched an eye-watering £15,000 at auction
equaling the record high and making them surely the most expensive fruit ever sold
Even the melon I picked up at the airport for half price set me back £11
The melon farmers are consequently doing very nicely
One souvenir emporium has come up with a radical new city mascot
whose aggressive snarl and bulging veins push the boundaries of cute into the realm of the creepy
has recently been bypassed by an expressway
allowing all but the most dedicated tourists to give the city a miss
with a predictably calamitous impact on souvenir emporia that Melon Bear is unlikely to mitigate
View image in fullscreenYubari is famous for cantaloupe melons and efforts have been made to promote the industry with a cuddly mascot
Melon Bear Photograph: Richard HendyOne unheralded Yubari success story is its rewilding
although no Japanese administrator would use that expression
When the city had the money in the 1970s and 1980s
it tore down vast tracts of miners’ housing
Stand in the upper Yubari valley and gaze up at the verdant hillsides now and it is hard to imagine they were once covered with sooty tenements
Work remains to be done – roughly a third of Yubari’s public housing
lies empty – but the bulk of the task is over
By a railway station on Yubari’s somnolent branch line
a man who in a small act of public spiritedness is watering the bare concrete floors of the station building (“It keeps the dust down”) points to a Sika Deer doe in the nearby undergrowth
“Unusual to see one around here until just recently.” More deer vaulted in front of my car on Yubari’s main street the following day
Good use is being made of the return of nature
too: an abandoned elementary school has been turned into a nature academy
where big-city kids can kayak down the now pristine rivers and catch stag beetles
View image in fullscreenThe rare sight of a pupil returning home
with only one in 20 people under the age of 15 Photograph: Richard HendyYubari has other lessons for the rust-belts of the west
Whole years can elapse without a single felony
In 2013 there was less than a single crime of any description per week
the state has not abdicated or shirked its responsibilities: there are still at least a dozen post offices
the fire engines are spit-polished and ready to respond to the monthly fire
Nor is the state rapacious: if you qualify
two-bedroom apartments in newish public blocks rent for around £150 a month
there are 40 sheltered housing units for the elderly that rent for less than £30 a month
someone will come and shovel your snow away for nothing
the population is projected to shrink by another two-thirds
The grand folly of monument-driven tourism is over
The city’s 2012 master plan calls for an orderly retreat from the fringes to the core
with the emphasis on preventative healthcare for the old
who will increasingly have to tend to the very old
with the occasional slip but a certain grace
The new American goldrush city of Williston, ND – in pictures
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Vidya Amalia Rimayanti
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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Fruits are essential intakes for the body to function due to its high nutrients and antioxidants
People are not only spending money to stock carbohydrate and protein rich meals
Some of them are willing to splurge on the most expensive fruit in the world for a number of reasons such as for the top notch flavor
This article unveils the top 10 most expensive fruits in the world according to int.japanesetaste.com and delish.com :
Yubari King Melon is the most expensive fruit in the world supporting a range of price from $220 each
The luxury fruit is grown in the town of Yubari in Japan’s Hokkaido province
Yubari King Melon reportedly auctioned at the price of $30,000 in 2008
The hefty price is due to its perfect sweetness and juicy texture as well as the fruit’s limited production
Densuke Watermelon is the world’s second most expensive fruit in the world selling at the price $250 and more for each
The juicy fruit is known to be seedless and boasts an incredible sweet taste
The striking black watermelon is exclusive to Japan’s Hokkaido province
These mangoes have a range of standards for sugar content
and weight before being distributed to the market
These standards are reflected in the qualities of the mango that support perfect shape
Ruby Roman Grapes are famous for their large size
remarkable sweetness and perfect shape cultivated in Japan
Only 24,000 bunches are produced each year
selling at the price between $90 and $450 each
The extraordinary cost is due to its rarity and strict cultivation standards
Known to be cultivated in the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall
The Heligan pineapple is sold roughly up to $1,500 each
This luxury fruit is cultivated with Victorian-era procedures involving special pits heated in the rotting manure process
The rarity and rigorous techniques contribute to its hefty price
Dekopon is well known due to its bumpy and unusual appearance
The luxury fruit supports a protruding neck that is widely referred to as top knot in some markets
A six-pack of these exceptionally sweet flavored citrus cost around $80 and more
The non-conventional shape of square watermelon was prompted for a number of reasons including its convenience to be fit into small Japanese refrigerators
The aesthetic appearance is the major reason for square watermelons to be given as gifts in japan
Each of these luscious juicy fruits cost around $100
Buddha Shaped Pears were the best selling fruits in Vietnam a few years back as reported by South China Morning Post in Jan 2016
The pears are created using a custom mold by a Chinese farmer
Each of the fruits is sold at the price starting at $8
Seka-ichi apple is a premium apple in Japan known for its large size and mild flavor
The price of these exceptional apples start at $20
White Jewel Strawberries is one of the most expensive strawberries cultivated in Japan with a price ranging from $10 each
So those are the top 10 most expensive fruits in the world
which are occupied mostly by luxurious fruits cultivated in Japan
signifying the nation’s meticulous farm
Editor's Choice: 5 Best Fruits for Lowering High Blood Pressure
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There are many fascinating products around the world that impress with their price
This Japanese delicacy is grown in the city of Yubari
some of them are sold at auctions for record-breaking sums
The grapes are renowned for their rich flavor and extraordinary sweetness
This variety of the king of fruits is grown in Thailand
It is distinguished by its exclusivity and rare taste
This elite strawberry is hand-grown in specialized conditions in Japan
It is often presented in expensive gift sets
as each berry boasts perfect shape and exceptional taste
This mango is grown in the Miyazaki region of Japan
The fruits have a rich flavor and vibrant red-orange color
The article was based on sources from: BBC Travel
Town
Domingo is collaborating with Yubari City to introduce the city's sightseeing spots
we will explore the true face of this powerful character
who is also one of the products of the present campaign that started today
For more information on the present campaign, please refer to the following article.■Yubari Melon Goods Set for 5 winners! Melon Bear" & "Yubari Melon T-shirt" [Yubari City x Domingo
If you have ever been sightseeing in Hokkaido
you have probably seen the Melon Bear at least once
The Melon Bear is definitely different from other local characters in other towns
but its most distinctive feature is its "reality
Melon Bear's first product was the "Melon Bear Magnet," which broke in the middle and could be used to hold up business cards
The Domingo editorial staff received one of these magnets to put on their desks when they interviewed the company
The shape is so realistic and scary that it makes you feel tense while you are at work
The store is filled with products that make you want to stop and pick them up
a one-minute walk from the roadside station Merode
Melon Bear's products are lined up in a cramped space
A wide variety of Melon Bear goods are available
including a headband that turns your pet into a Melon Bear
ear buds that are popular for cleaning your ears with a Melon Bear
and a magnet with a version of a salmon added
The melon bear sometimes appears in the melon bear house after it has come down to the human village
The melon bears are very realistic and scary
and are often feared by children when they appear
Recommended for those who read this article!Mone house Sugawara, who "hated Yubari", makes T-shirts to "change the image of Yubari ".Yubari melon goods set for 5 win ners! Melon Bear" & "Yubari Melon T-shirt" [Yubari City x Domingo
"It's too good..." Record of a trip to the northernmost remote island of Japan
Video filmed by university students becomes a hot topic: "It's youth"
Expanding the circle of exchange in Minami-ku
a community market created by students together with the local community
"Amazing view..." It's like another world
A photo taken in the "city of steel" Muroran is a hot topic: "It's overwhelming"
"I never knew there was such a wonderful place." It's like a magic school
A fantastic photo taken in Kushiro is cool
"Beautiful like a dream" - like a painting
Biei's fantastic winter scenery is a hot topic "It makes me want to go to Hokkaido"
Town
Table of Contents1. Enjoy with all your senses! Experience Yubari2. enjoy the scenery! The magnificent nature of Yubari3. Enjoy the food! Delicious food in Yubari! 4. I want to know about coal mines! History of the coal mine that made Yubari prosperous
there are spots where you can enjoy moving your body and fully utilize all five senses
Some events are limited to certain seasons or days of the week
so please check the hours of operation before participating
this ski resort offers high-quality powder snow and accessibility
The closest winter resort from New Chitose Airport
the slopes boasting a maximum run distance of 3,500 meters and a maximum slope angle of 45° allow you to experience high-quality powder snow and a variety of course layouts for beginners and advanced skiers alike
but is scheduled to be open from December 18 this season
Visitors can enjoy "Shimizusawa Machiaruki," a walking tour held on the fourth Saturday of every month
which is a project to walk the Northern Coal Historical Heritage Route that visits coal mine tenements
and the former Shimizusawa Thermal Power Station
one of Japan's two hundred most famous mountains
is a treasure trove of 600 varieties of alpine flora and is also known as a mountain famous for its flowers
Trekking to Lengshueishan (冷水山) can be done from May to September and is 6.7 km
The elevation is 702 meters and the difference in elevation is 405 meters
and it has not yet been determined whether it will be open to the public from next year
Yubari City is a hilly area nurtured by the rich forests and clear streams of the Yubari Mountains
and its tributaries run almost through the center of the city
forming a strip of towns along the river basin
Another attraction of Yubari is the magnificent scale of its man-made structures
which exist only because of the city's history of prosperous coal mining
Here are some spots where you can enjoy the overwhelming scenery created by the magnificent nature and magnificent man-made structures
The valley created by the erosion of the Yubari River is composed of oddly shaped rocks and countless waterfalls of various sizes
The autumn foliage in fall is especially a must-see
The Taki no Kami Power Plant in the park was built in January 1925 by Hokkaido Coal Mine Steamship Company as a private power generation facility
and is a testament to the coal mining legacy
The old brick warehouse building is recognized as a recommended civil engineering heritage site
visitors can enjoy the magnificent nature of Yubari
At the bottom of the lake lies the Kashima area
where up to 20,000 people lived and prospered at the Mitsubishi Dai-Yubari Coal Mine
the dried-up trees and arched bridges that peek out from the surface of the lake offer a nostalgic view that reminds us of the prosperity that once existed
This gravity-fed concrete dam is located upstream of the Yubari River in the Ishikari River system
It is known as a multi-purpose dam of overwhelming scale
boasting the second largest water area in Japan (15.0㎢) and the fourth largest total storage capacity (427 million m2) in Japan
The first thing that comes to mind when most people think of Yubari City is probably the Yubari melon
Let us introduce you to the delicious foods produced by the rich natural environment and history of coal mining
It is characterized by its beautiful netted appearance
loved and passed down from generation to generation by coal miners engaged in hard labor
Cinnamon doughnuts (Usagiya) are bite-sized an-doughnuts filled with koshian (sweet red bean paste); panjyu (Oguraya Panjyu Store) are manjyu (buns baked like bread); tandorayaki (dumplings made with dough kneaded with bamboo charcoal to resemble coal) are made at Abe Kashiho; and taiyaki (fish dumplings) are served warm
dorayaki made with dough kneaded with bamboo charcoal to resemble coal
and Taiyaki (Shimura Kashiho) with its characteristic large head served warm
Visitors can learn about Yubari's history and its relationship with the coal industry through exhibits
as well as view actual coal mining equipment in operation
This museum will deepen your understanding of coal mining
This is a private power plant that was in use until 1991
Some of the equipment still remains and can be visited
Tours are available by advance reservation only
The entire exterior of the plant can be seen from Shimizusawa Dam located in front of the plant
It is characterized by the fact that the entrance and exhaust shaft entrances remain in pairs
and by the beautiful red-brick decorative mine entrance in a costume style
It is also recognized as a component cultural property of the Japan Heritage Coal and Iron Port
Yubari City was a town that could be enjoyed in many ways
There are different attractions throughout the four seasons
such as pure white snow in the coming full-blown winter
so please visit Yubari in the season you are interested in
Yubari City Tourism WebsiteYubari City Website
Town
For more information about the present campaign, please see the following article. Yubari Melon Goods Set for 5 Win ners! Melon Bear" & "Yubari Melon T-shirt" [Yubari City x Domingo
The charm of mone house's T-shirts is the warm texture of each silk-screened
The cute designs and striking colors are also very attractive
and you will want to have T-shirts of different designs or wear them with the whole family
who says she aims to create a new image of the town and an opportunity to connect with it through the T-shirts
mone house Online storeInstagram
left her hometown after graduating from high school and worked as a nursery school teacher in Nara and Kagoshima
What kind of feelings did she have toward Yubari
the first thing he wanted to know was " Why are Yubari melons considered so high class
Sugawara says that while working as a "demen" (part-time farm worker) for one season as a Yubari melon grower
who acts on the spur of the moment and is passionate about Yubari
mone house's activities and products are updated on Instagram and on its website
the T-shirts are on display at the Yubari City Furusato Tax Payment
Town
■ We also recommend this article!Sweet, soft, and juicy summer del icacies! How Yubari melons, the fruit of handiwork
The Domingo editorial staff also got the first Yubari long potatoes and tried them for the first time
and a sweetness no matter how you eat them
JA Yubari City Net Shop *Receipt of 2021 harvest long potatoes has been closed
Late March - Seed cutting and drying Cutting the "seed potatoes," which are the seeds of the long potatoes
Late April to mid-May - Sprouting and acclimatization Sprouting is the process of germinating seed potatoes
the seedlings are acclimatized by gradually lowering their temperature to that of the field
are easily sickened by sudden changes in temperature
Mid-May to Late May - Planting The sprouted seed potatoes are finally planted in the field
In order to grow large and tasty long potatoes
the field needs to be cleared to at least 1 meter in height
Mid-June - Putting up support poles In order to ensure that the long potatoes receive an even amount of sunlight
Mid-July and mid-August - Hand weeding Weeding is done twice a year by hand to remove weeds growing near the long plants
the underground long shoots are about 10 cm in diameter
reaching 60 cm to 70 cm in one month from mid-August to mid-September
Mid-October - Cutting the vines and removing the support poles Around mid-October
the vines with yellow leaves are cut and the posts are pulled out in preparation for harvesting
Early November - Harvesting After the vines are cut and the longs have completely stopped growing
they are left to mature in the field for about 10 days before finally being harvested
100% of Yubari's long potatoes are harvested in the fall
The cultivation of long potatoes is done in between the work on the Yubari melons
It is difficult to combine the two operations
It seems like a lot of work just to grow melons or long potatoes
but I have nothing but respect for the farmers who manage to do both
Recommended for readers of this article!■Breathing a New Breeze into Local Yubari! Yubari Yam Soba Noodles Made by Mr. Motozawa of Ono Noen
Yubari King melons are grown in central Japan's Shizuoka prefecture with each melon given 100 days to grow from seed to fruit
The farmers that grow these melons have the methodology down to a science and the fruits are all lovingly raised in a controlled environment that includes raised beds and specific amounts of water
with both heating and air conditioning to keep temperatures even
And when they begin to show their webbed appearance
farmers then don white gloves to hand polish and massage these pampered beauties (via Insider)
Because of this, fruits fill a different cultural role. The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Soyeon Shim, who is dean of the School of Human Ecology, tells CNN that "fruit purchase and consumption are tied to social and cultural practices
It is not only an important part of their diet
fruit is considered a luxury item and plays an important and elaborate ritual part in Japan's extensive gift-giving practices."
Fruit distributor Hiroko Ishikawa agrees. He explained to the BBC that "when it comes to fruit it is still a luxurious item
Vegetables you need for daily life but you can live without eating fruit
So if you are to buy something you might as well buy something that looks good
You don't want scarred or deformed because you are paying for the fruit
As a result, it's not unsurprising to see $10 white strawberries, $94 square Zentsuji Watermelons, $250 Densuke watermelons, as much as $4,000 for a bunch of Ruby Roman grapes
the Yubari King melon could be considered a bargain
A pair of premium melons in Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido fetched 3.5 million yen ($25,000) at the year's first auction on Thursday
securing the event's second highest bid on record
The bid for the melons grown in the city of Yubari exceeded the previous year's by 500,000 yen but failed to top the record bid of 5 million yen in 2019
This year's successful bidder was Hokuyupack Co.
a Yubari-based company that packs fruit and vegetables
a pair of Yubari melons fetched just 120,000 yen
but bids rose to 2.7 million yen in 2021 and 3 million yen in 2022
nine farms on Thursday auctioned off 262 of the melons
which are known for their orange flesh and sweetness
with the peak harvesting period in late June through July
Premium fruit often fetch very high prices at first auctions in Japan
with buyers using successful bids for promotional purposes
Hokuyupack said it will offer pieces of the purchased melons for free at a local farmers market on June 3 and 4
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Fewer than 10,000 people remain in the sleepy former mining town of Yūbari on Japan's Hokkaido Island
A crippling financial crisis in the early 2000s drove nearly 90 percent of the town’s population to seek residence elsewhere in the country
And that fiscal tragedy is crueler yet for the sad irony of the town’s famous export: the Yūbari King melon
one of the most expensive fruits in the world
a pair of Yūbari Kings was auctioned for ¥3.2 million ($29,000) in Sapporo
making it the world’s most expensive melon
The Yūbari King is actually a hybrid of two melon cultivars
called Earl’s Favorite and Burpee’s Spicy Cantaloupe
The two seedlings are grown in the same planter in climate-controlled greenhouses
It takes about 100 days for a delicious Yūbari melon to reach full growth
The sweetest melons grow on vines that bear only one fruit
and the precious King of cantaloupes is given royal treatment by growers who wipe the fruit clean everyday while it’s still attached to its plant
to prevent sun scald from spoiling the fruit and perhaps also to help them ripen quickly
Arguably the reason for the Yūbari’s exorbitant cost is its careful selection process
Melon inspectors (melon farmers themselves) tap and flick the fruit to listen for a low
and inspect the rind before rewarding the best melons with the Yūbari label
The perfect Yūbari King should have beautifully netted skin
Giving fruit as gifts is a traditional Japanese custom, and growing and selling luxury fruit specifically meant for gifts or as part of large celebrations such as weddings is a cottage industry. There are luxury fruit parlors in Japan where fruits such as the square watermelon and the egg of the sun mango are displayed like jewelry in glass showcases
Yūbari Kings can cost thousands of dollars
They may be the most expensive fruit in the world
but their painstaking growing process reflects an admirable love and care for the profession of fruit farming
which has lost much of this pursuit of quality to the quest for industrial scalability
Fewer than 10,000 people remain in the sleepy former mining town of Yūbari on Japan’s Hokkaido Island
Giving fruit as gifts is a traditional Japanese custom, and growing and selling luxury fruit specifically meant for gifts or as part of large celebrations such as weddings is a cottage industry. There are luxury fruit parlors in Japan where fruits such as the square watermelon and the egg of the sun mango are displayed like jewelry in glass showcases
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While melons in the market or supermarket should not break the bank
there's one variety that may leave you astounded by its price
This unique melon is exclusively grown in Japan and goes by the name "Yubari King." It's believed to be the world's priciest fruit
cultivated solely in Yubari city on Japan's Hokkaido island
Yubari King owes its exceptional sweetness and flavor to the stark temperature fluctuations between day and night in Yubari city
It's said that the greater the difference in temperature
What sets Yubari King apart is that it's not merely sold; it's auctioned
one Yubari King fetched a staggering Rs 2 mln (€22,000) in an auction
Source: dnaindia.com
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A pair of premium melons in Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido fetched 3 million yen ($23,550) at the year's first auction on Thursday
exceeding last year's winning bid by 10 percent
The auction record for a pair of Yubari melons
The winning bid at the first auction last year was 2.7 million yen
a Yubari-based company that sells and packs fruit and vegetables
The firm plans to hold a free tasting event for melons including the pair on June 4 and 5 in Yubari
said the unique taste of the melons makes them "worth" the price
A total of 2,721 melons were auctioned on Thursday
with Yubari's agricultural cooperative attributing the year's harvest to good sunlight
98 local farmers plan to ship a total of 3,438 tons of melons worth around 2.03 billion yen this year
Meanwhile, the scale of Chinese concealed local government debt
is growing and possible defaults are emerging
As noted on the Local Leaders Network last week, a Detroit scenario would be unlikely here
given the contrasts between US and UK municipal finances and their sources of revenue
Where we can find a more illustrative case is the Japanese municipality of Yubari
which is closer in scale and scope to the likes of West Somerset in the UK
Yubari has become the face of municipal bankruptcy in Japan (whose national public debt ranks highest in the world at an eye-watering 220% of GDP)
as the coal-mining town of Akaike in the southern prefecture of Fukuoka went under in 1992
Yubari saw a substantial drop in population in the 1980s from a peak of almost 120,000 to just 10,000 (in an area almost the size of New York city) following the collapse of its economic base of coal mining in the 1980s
White elephant amusement parks and ski resorts followed as city leaders sought to save face
with an internationally-renowned film festival in the city
But even Tarantino couldn't save Yubari and at the time of its financial collapse the film festival went into a hiatus for a couple of years
owing more than Y35.3bn (£150m) and having papered over the cracks for a decade to hide its debts following the double-whammy of cuts in central grants and the expiry of a national statute to fund former mining communities
Yubari was forced to effectively halve the city's 300-strong payroll (even under Japan's stringent protection for public servants) in a manner familiar from more recent Californian municipal bankruptcies
cutting all but the most vital of services to its ageing population
This is when the Japanese ministry of internal affairs and communications (which supervises Japanese municipalities and champions local autonomy in Tokyo) took charge of the situation and placed the municipality under centrally-directed special measures aimed at consolidating its debts – in exchange for the suspension of its constitutional autonomy it gained some breathing space
In 2007 a "No More Yubaris" law was passed (the Local Finance Soundness Law) aimed at ensuring early warnings and recovery plans would be set in motion for any municipality where even the mildest signs of financial stress become evident
The law followed an earlier ministry report which identified that more municipalities faced going to the wall amid a perfect storm of excessive dependence on central finances
failure to market the municipalities' unique characteristics
inadequate local civic participation and a lack of local financial transparency
around the time of Yubari's financial collapse rumours persisted of this being the tip of the iceberg
but under the new law there is greater transparency of the municipalities' finances
with an array of annual health checks around deficit ratios and future debt servicing
Earlier checks and enhanced media scrutiny helped the most stricken municipalities pull back from the brink. Yubari aims to be out of financial reconstruction by March 2030, having already repaid Y3.8bn of its Y35.3bn debt as of the end of July
The Yubari case offers a number of interesting lessons for the UK
not least in the area of turnaround leadership
following a stint on loan to the city from the Tokyo metropolitan government
Naomichi Suzuki became Japan's youngest mayor at 30
He was implored by locals to return from Tokyo and finish the job
Suzuki is credited with reviving the local film festival and personally brokering more favourable terms for debt repayment
Other measures such as eliminating senior management posts and selling off land and buildings will probably be more familiar here in the UK
if Yubari can't be saved then what hope is there for the rest of Japan
Andrew Stevens is chief researcher at the Japan Local Government Centre
the London office for Japan's cities and regions
Email sarah.marsh@theguardian.com if you want to contribute an article to this debate
Not already a member? Join us now for more comment, analysis and the latest job opportunities in local government.
Why buy a car when you can eat a couple of delicious melons
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you treat yourself to organic raspberries and mangoes
at the news that people in Japan are buying melons that cost as much as a new car
This specific variety of melon is called the Yubari King and is actually a cross between two types of cantaloupe
the fruit can only be produced in a certain region in order to be named thus - Yubari
A pair of the premium cantaloupes has recently sold at auction for an astounding ¥3 million (£21,500)
The reason Yubari King melons are so expensive is reportedly their sweetness
However this latest sale is record-breaking
Yubari melons have been bought for no more than £19,000
which - although significantly less - is still an extraordinary amount to pay for one fruit
This is not the first example of the Japanese spending vast amounts of money on fruit though.
There was the case of individual strawberries being sold for £17 (each one packaged in its own box, where the strawberry lay on a bed of hay) not to mention the bunch of grapes that sold for nearly £8,000 - it’s probably best not to think about how much that costs per grape.
A pair of melons for £21,500 - truly for the person who has everything (except maybe sense).
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
A pair of melons grown in the northern Japan city of Yubari
sold for 120,000 yen ($1,100) in the season's first auction on Monday
2.4 percent of the price at last year's auction amid the new coronavirus outbreak
Prices for a couple of premium cantaloupe at the wholesale market have generally gone over above 1 million yen in recent years
with the all-time high of 5 million yen paid last year and 3.2 million yen in 2018
"The result (this year) mirrors the situation of the novel coronavirus pandemic," said an official at the wholesale market
a fruit and vegetable wholesaler based in Kushiro
said it opted to bid in the auction this year to show its gratitude and support for local farmers
It will display the melons at a shopping center in Sapporo on Monday and start selling them Tuesday
The wholesale market halted auctions on April 20 due to the coronavirus outbreak but decided to open as a one-off as part of efforts to promote sales of Yubari melons
which are considered high-quality and often sent as gifts in Japan
the country's northernmost main island and a popular tourist destination
has seen a high number of virus infection cases along with Tokyo
Toothpick maker releases button-pressing sticks amid virus fears
World Masters Games athletes get physical online during shutdowns
Increasing plastic waste creates danger for Hokkaido's wild bears
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embraces a boxed pair of Yubari melons he purchased for ¥3.5 million during the first auction for the fruit this season
at the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market in Sapporo on Thursday
It was the second-highest price fetched by Yubari melons
the king of Hokkaido’s summer fruits that are grown in Yubari
after another pair sold for ¥5 million in 2019
also made the winning bid of ¥3 million for two Yubari melons last year
“They [Yubari melons] taste sweeter than usual this year because there’ve been large differences between warm and cold temperatures,” Noda
“I hope people eating these melons will have a smile on their faces.”
Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting
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Just off Hokkaido's beaten path lies a totally unique ski area
Melon Kuma doesn’t initially strike visitors as a welcoming character
the city’s unofficial mascot is based on a story of a bear eating so many locally grown melons that its head became a melon
It’s common to see the life-sized Melon Kuma “eating” the heads of unsuspecting children and adults skiing at the base of Mt
there is a deeper story surrounding the creation of the Melon Kuma and the plethora of melon-headed bear merchandise found throughout the Yūbari region
Yūbari fell on hard times when the mines closed in the 1980s
The mascot was created to promote tourism in the region
and it makes some of the most recognizable appearances at events all over Japan promoting winter activities in Yūbari
The economic development of the region is also one of the reasons the Cohn brothers at SnowLocals recommend spending time at Yūbari on either end of a Hokkaido ski trip: The community needs the tourism badly
Racey sees a fraction of the visitors compared to major resorts like Kiroro and Niseko
there’s even more of the deep Japanese powder left untouched for visiting skiers
and the local population is anxious to make sure everyone has a great experience during their visit
Read more: Powder Dreams in Japanese
Only 34 miles from the New Chitose Airport
Yūbari is a short ride from the arrivals hall via a train that delivers visitors to the ski area’s parking lot
take the gondola and follow your nose into the trees for fresh pow on runs like Curving Line and Thrilling Line
the only tracks you’ll come across are your own
Yūbari has a unique history and is filled with incredibly genuine people
so take advantage of being in an undiscovered spot that is still truly Japanese
Explore the town and indulge in a pastry from Café & Sweets
Be sure to stroll down “Cinema Street” to see classic Japanese film billboards
there is plenty of culture to keep skiers occupied off the hill
Hotel Mt. Racey is a one-stop shop in Yubari for standard accommodations and very tasty black-noodle ramen, a regional dish loved by locals and visitors alike. The natural, open-air onsen at the base is the perfect way to unwind after skiing. In February or March, the town hosts the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival
Many of the Japanese films include English subtitles
and the event as a whole is a festive cultural experience
just in case you don’t get enough of that on the hill
Originally published in the November 2018 issue of SKI Magazine
fetched on Friday a record 5 million yen ($45,500) in the season's first auction
The price bid at a Sapporo wholesale market beat the all-time high of 3.2 million yen paid in the first auction of Yubari melons last year
The premium cantaloupe is known for its soft juicy orange-colored flesh and high sugar content and the melons are usually sold for 4,000 yen to 10,000 yen each
Nagoya-based Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Ltd.
said it decided to make a bid in the auction for the first time as part of the celebrations for the 10th anniversary of the release of its melon-flavored soda water
I had been thinking there must be something I can do for Hokkaido," said President Yoshihiro Iwata
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The company said it plans to first display the melons at Sapporo Dome and New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido before taking them for color and scent analysis to help in the development of new products
The harvesting of melons began Thursday morning in Yubari
a city widely known in Japan for its production of the fruit
and is expected to reach its peak in early July
according to the local agricultural cooperative
Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival is truly one of the most unique movie festivals in the world
Located in the small resort town of Yubari
it first opened in 1990 as a way of revitalizing the economy after the last coal mine in the area had closed
Quentin Tarantino made a guest appearance and allegedly wrote part of his screenplay for Pulp Fiction while in his hotel room
He later payed homage to the town via his character Gogo Yubari (Chiaki Kuriyama) in Kill Bill: Volume 1
Other notable invitees in the 1990s included Jon Voight
Because of budgeting issues – the town went bankrupt in 2007 – the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival is no longer able to attract major Hollywood stars
actors and film crew in attendance at this month’s event
The most high-profile names on the guest list were Takumi Saitoh (Shin Godzilla
One of the main goals of the festival is to promote up-and-coming filmmakers through the main competition
which is only for independent movies shot on relatively small budgets
and all the directors should be relatively inexperienced
Each year the films involved tend to include lots of sex and violence – and the 2017 version was no exception
While there was some praise and encouragement at the award ceremony
not everyone was so impressed with the seven nominees
criticized the movies involved for the way they depicted women
admitted that “this year’s line-up wasn’t exactly fantastic.”
The main Grand Prix award and the ¥2,000,000 ($17,414) that came with it was won by Tadashi Nagayama’s road movie Journey of the Tortoise
The film will subsequently premiere at next year’s festival
a Korean comedy about a man who draws inspiration from a woman’s sexual screaming in the hotel room next to him
while Yasushi Koshizaka’s Strangedays – basically a porn film with a message – surprisingly took home the Cinegar Prize
The Hokkaido Governor’s Award went to Shoichi Yokoyama’s bizarre
Kazuya Murayama’s Ochiru – a 30-minute story about a middle-aged man’s obsession with a young pop idol – was given an honorable mention
The other two movies in the competition were Sha La La by Yuto Tsuge and Cho Jinseok’s controversial
yet thought-provoking debut Colonel Panics
In the International Short Film section the Grand Prix prize went to M
Away from the competition there were a wide range of domestic and international movies being screened
Animated film Ancien and the Magic Tablet kicked things off in style
though it was the Hollywood blockbuster Jackie that arguably stole the show
This moving tale by Chilean director Pablo Larraín depicts the life of Jacqueline Kennedy around the time of the assassination of her husband John F
and was nominated for three Academy Awards including a nod to Natalie Portman in the Best Actress category for her realistic portrayal of the First Lady
were among the other big budget movies that featured at the festival
action thriller Karate Kill by Kurando Mitsutake
movies are a big attraction of the festival
This is an event that clearly means so much to the local people
there were crowds out in the streets waving yellow handkerchiefs (The Yellow Handkerchief starring Ken Takakura was filmed in Yubari in 1977)
They also prepared a barbecue in the snow on one of the evenings and though it was absolutely freezing
it was a highly enjoyable occasion with some great food all for just a small donation
Late in the evening it felt like almost everyone made their way to the local izakaya where actors
Saitoh calls Yubari his “favorite festival because of this homely atmosphere.”
The economic downturn has threatened to put an end to this magical event in the past
and people of Yubari is just too strong to let it die
we were told the festival would definitely be going ahead next year
Yubari melon seen among first round of protected brands
TOKYO -- Japan is readying for its first attempt to protect food brands associated with particular geographic areas
which could be among the intial group of certifications
The agriculture ministry will designate up to seven such brands as early as next week
a pair of Japanese melons have fetched more than $45,500
Kyodo news reported that the melons were sold for 5 million yen in the season's first auction
"The price bid at a Sapporo wholesale market beat the all-time high of 3.2 million yen paid in the first auction of Yubari melons last year,” the report said
is popular for its soft juicy orange-colored flesh as well as its high sugar content
Cantaloupes usually range in weight from 0.5 to 5 kilograms (1.1 to 11 pounds)
The report said the melons are usually sold for prices between 4,000 yen ($36) and 10,000 yen ($91) each and are often given as gifts
Nagoya-based Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Ltd
The company said it decided to make the bid as part of the celebrations for the 10th anniversary of the release of its melon-flavored soda water
"As our company was founded in Sapporo[Hokkaido]
I had been thinking there must be something I can do for Hokkaido," said its President Yoshihiro Iwata
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Apartment houses originally built for coal miners stand in Yubari
2016 at 5:00 PM EDTBookmarkSaveLock This article is for subscribers only.A sleepy
former coal-mining town in northern Japan is taking unprecedented measures to combat its biggest challenge: a devastating shrinking of its population
Its success could decide the future for hundreds of other local governments waging the same battle for survival
Since its peak in the post-war economic boom of the 1960s, the population of Yubari
a little more than an hour’s drive east of Sapporo on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido
has declined by more than 90 percent to just 9,000 as older residents died and young people moved away to bigger cities
it became Japan’s first municipality to declare bankruptcy
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In the latest salvo to be fired in Taiwan’s summer dessert war
7-Eleven convenience stores announced on Tuesday that they are introducing “Hokkaido Yubari melon soft ice cream” to do battle with FamilyMart’s popular “mango soft ice cream.”
has become a bestseller during the hot summer months in Taiwan
head of Uni-President Enterprise Co’s fresh food division
said soft serve ice creams have become the 7-Eleven franchise chain’s No
“Each store sells 200 to 300 ice creams on average per day
Some of our high-customer-density stores have sold more than 1,000 in a day,” he said
With the arrival of sweltering summer days and students enjoying their holidays
7-Eleven executives have decided to storm the market with the leading Japanese seller this year
Hokkaido Yubari melon soft ice cream is made from milk and a prized variety of cantaloupe grown in Yubari
known as the Yubari king melon — also known as one of the most expensive fruits on Earth
“We held meetings and negotiated with our Japanese counterparts
and the outcome is that Hokkaido Yubari melon soft ice cream will be sold in Taiwan from July 13
The price will be NT$45 per ice cream,” Liang said
He said the Japanese import is made from cantaloupes that have passed certification by the local agricultural association of Hokkaido’s Yubari region
to verify that the fruit are all 100 percent Yubari king melons
“The milk used to make the ice cream originates in Hokkaido’s Tokachi region and is processed within 48 hours to become an ingredient for ice cream
Then it is frozen and transported by direct flight to Taiwan,” Liang said
the new flavor will only be available at 10 selected 7-Eleven stores in northern
but availability will be expanded in stages to 300 stores
“We expect to break new records for sales of soft serve ice cream in Taiwan,” a 7-Eleven spokesperson said
“Since the introduction of Hokkaido Tokachi milk soft ice cream in October last year
we have equipped 900 of our stores around the nation with soft serve ice cream machines
we have sold more than 1.8 million ice creams at our stores.”
A FamilyMart official said that its mango soft ice cream has set an in-house sales record since its introduction last month
It surpassed the sales of strawberry soft ice cream that came on the market at about the time of Valentine’s Day
“We will introduce two or three new flavors of soft ice cream by the end of the year
There is red-hot competition in the soft ice cream market in Taiwan
which is estimated to generate about NT$5 billion [US$167.3 million] in business annually
It is known as a ‘platinum’ market,” the official said
The bankruptcy of a ski resort operator in Hokkaido’s Yubari
the only local municipality in Japan undergoing fiscal reconstruction
has intensified the sense of crisis in the city
The company is said to have fallen into financial difficulties due to the spread of the novel coronavirus
and large-scale factory closures have also been announced in the city
there are fears of a further exodus of the population
and residents are voicing concern that Yubari’s financial recovery may be a long ways off
just before the beginning of the ski season
announced that it would suspend operations at the Mount Racey ski resort and the affiliated hotels that the company ran
It cited as a reason the uncertain future stemming from the temporary halt of the Go to Travel tourism promotion campaign
the company said that it would go out of business
The resort and hotels were originally owned by the city
but were sold to the private sector in 2017 to reconstruct its finances
The number of inbound tourists had begun to increase
but the coronavirus pandemic changed the situation
and the company decided it would be difficult to continue operating without the prospect of attracting more customers
announced that it would downsize its factory in the city by soliciting voluntary retirement
and major seafood company Maruha Nichiro Corp.
said in December that it would close its Yubari factory in March this year
The city’s population has fallen to about 7,500
more than 100 residents are expected to be forced to leave their jobs
including the employees of the bankrupt Yubari Resort Co
Yubari Mayor Tsukasa Atsuya visited the Hokkaido prefectural government office on Jan
22 and submitted a request to Hokkaido Gov
Suzuki expressed his willingness to consider such support
“We want to minimize the impact on the local economy.”
but we want to help people find new jobs in the city.”
the shuttering of the city’s only ski resort
which usually attracts several hundred visitors a day in winter
“Almost no one comes from outside the city anymore
I’m worried that it will turn into a huge ruin.”
She expressed her fears as she looked at the hotel
its entrance covered by a huge amount of snow
People who have left their jobs in Yubari have also voiced concern
saying it is not realistic to expect new employment in the city
The ski resort and affiliated hotels operated by the bankrupt Yubari Resort are now owned by another company
and the city said it does not anticipate a significant decrease in property taxes
according to the lawyer handling Yubari Resort’s situation
the company has debts of more than ¥500 million
The city is planning to calculate the number of employees who will lose their jobs and the specific impact on the city’s finances
A city council member said: “The plan for financial reconstruction is based on the premise that the existing facilities and companies will continue to operate
so the city needs to make trial calculations as soon as possible.”
but saw its finances deteriorate when the mines were closed
The city tried to change its industrial structure under the slogan
“From coal mining to tourism,” but it did not succeed and went bankrupt in 2006
Yubari is now under the control of the central government and aims to pay off its debt of ¥35.3 billion by fiscal 2026 based on its financial reconstruction plan
Most Expensive Fruits List: Japan’s Yubari King Melon is reportedly the most expensive fruit in the world
Most Expensive Fruits In The World: When it comes to expensive food
the list that takes shape in the mind is quite a long one
the category has an end number of contenders
we have a new fact for you all- fruits too can be a bit too expensive and for today
We found out about some fruits that are reportedly considered one of the most expensive ones in the world
List of top 10 most Expensive fruits in the world:
The Yubari King Melon is not only a fruit that fits the ‘aesthetic fruit’ list quite well ( at least as far as its appearance is concerned)
but is also a ‘festival’ for the taste buds
The fruit reportedly reached $30,000 (more than Rs 24 lakh) per pair in 2008
resulting in it being the most expensive fruit in the world to date
Ruby Roman GrapesComing to the next- the world’s second most expensive fruit in the world is reportedly the Ruby Roman Grapes
where they are reportedly selected based on their ‘weight and sugar content’
These grapes were sold for $8,400 (more than Rs 6 lakh) in 2015
making them a worthy inclusion on the list
It seems like Japan has a thing for expensive fruits because the third most expensive fruit is also from this Island Nation
they can be as heavy as 11 kg and are found in Hokkaido Island
They were sold for $6,100 (more than Rs 5 lakh) in 2008
making them a part of the ‘luxury food club'
They are especially loved for their sweetness
Taiyo no Tamago MangoesFor the next on the list
were you even paying attention to what you just read above
reportedly the fourth most expensive fruit is also from Japan
It is grown in Miyazaki prefecture and is also popular by the name Egg of the Sun- a unique name for sure
a pair of these expensive mangoes were sold for $3,744 (more than Rs 3 lakh)
a different country- the fifth most expensive fruit that was ever sold and is a worthy contender in the ‘luxury food club’
These pineapples are from Cornwall in England
and reached the amount of $1,500 (more than a lakh)
making them one of the most expensive fruits in the world
Opening up about the rarity of the fruit and its farming conditions
“Our pineapples are grown in specially designed pits heated by a winter supply of fresh decomposing manure and an emergency backup heater
the heat of these warms the air that enters the pits through vents in the wall.”
yet again responsible for coming up with another luxury fruit
The square watermelon is reportedly the sixth most expensive fruit in the world
if it is something that you would like to taste
the fruit can be as expensive as $800 (more than Rs 60,000)
Their shape is exactly how their name sounds- square
we should probably stop mentioning the country
the seventh most expensive fruit on the list is also from Japan and is one of the most adorable and esthetic-looking fruits- the Sembikiya Queen Strawberries
they are sold in Japan and were named after the shop from 1834
which still exists to date in Tokyo; Sembikiya
Their price can reach as high as $85 (around Rs 7,000) per pack
Dekopon CitrusNext on the list can now be found in other nations as well
but it originated in Japan- no surprise here
The Dekopon Citrus is reportedly a type of mandarin orange’
Their size and taste have a lot to do with how rare and expensive they became with time
Their price can reportedly reach as high as $80 (more than Rs 6,000) for a pack of 6
which were first grown in Japan; the Sekai Ichi apples
What makes these apples expensive has mostly to do with their availability
only a limited number of apples are grown in a single tree
They can cost as much as $21 (almost Rs 2,000) per apple
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the next on the list is the Buddha Shaped Pears
their shape alone makes them one of the most expensive fruits in the world
They were reportedly first grown by a Chinese farmer and are now sold for $9 (more than Rs 700) all over the world
ALSO READ: Spot 11 Hidden Animals In The Painting In Under 11 Seconds | Optical Illusion
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Two melons from the Japanese city of Yubari have fetched a record price of 5 million yen
or $45,600, in the first auction of this year's agricultural season in the country
characterised by their orange pulp and sweetness
were part of around 1,000 pieces of Yubari-brand melons auctioned at the wholesale market in Sapporo
The melons will be on public display from Saturday to May 29
This variety of melon is considered to be of especially good quality because it is grown and ripened during a long period of sunny weather and has an almost perfectly round shape
Auctions of agricultural products in Japan traditionally start around this time of the year
and the first few to hit the market - which are sold for exorbitant prices - go under the hammer with much fanfare
with the purchases being valued more as a trophy
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The ski slopes aren’t the only reason to head up to Hokkaido this month as Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival is kicking off on the 27th and running through until March 3rd
The festival’s focus is on the fantastic so expect plenty of genre fare of the science fiction
As well being a great opportunity to catch a huge selection of new Japanese films
the festival also offers the chance to catch some major Hollywood offerings before they go on general release
Oscar contender 12 Years a Slave will be playing along with Seth Rogan comedy This is the End
and a first look at Disney’s latest Frozen amongst others
No no Nanana no ka comes courtesy of director Nobuhiko Obayashi
known for his brilliant—and utterly bonkers—1977 cult horror-comedy ‘Hausu’
Yubari is easily reachable from Sapporo. It’s about an hour and a half train ride away, making for a cultural experience well worth squeezing into any skiing itinerary. For more information, visit their site at yubarifanta.com
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