Daiei Hokkaido Yubari Melons

One aspect of gift giving in Japan is items you use and do not have to store usually work better. This is because people have small houses and a statue or some other such gift would take up valuable space. Food is eaten and therefore does not take up space for long, therefore it is a very popular item for gift giving. There are two gift giving seasons in Japan, New Year's and summer, where you give gifts to business associates, friends or people you have done something for you. The supermarkets are other food stores are full of overpriced gift packs at these times of year.

Hokkaido yubari melons are an indicator of how far this can go. They are wildly overpriced and are a sign of wealth and luxury.

Daiei is offering free nation-wide shipping on Hokkaido yubari melons ordered either in-store or online. Free shipping is nice, but single melons are priced at 2,900 to 3,500 yen. While expensive, that is reasonable compared with the top prices which are conveniently given for each year starting in 1985 on Wikipedia (link below).

http://www7.daiei.co.jp/index.php?shopcode=4073006&themecode=420
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%95%E5%BC%B5%E3%83%A1%E3%83%AD%E3%83%B3

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.