The insanely-priced melons happen like this: It's socially obligatory to bring gifts in some occasions in Japan, like if you visit someone's house, or many other things. The gifts should, for social correctness, be of a value appropriate to the occasion (this explains the many, many Y500/Y1000/Y1500/etc presents pre-wrapped in railway stations and other shops). It doesn't usually matter what they are; it's the act of giving a certain value that counts. Recipients Will Know how much the item cost you and They Will Notice. Japanese people don't have much space for stuff, so consumable items are a good gift (hence the many Y500/Y1000/Y1500/etc boxes of local foodstuffs packaged up in every railway station). If you owe someone bigtime, this all comes together into giving them a melon costing Y22000. It's entirely there so someone can buy it as a very expensive present to someone else because they are socially required to give that person a very expensive present and everyone (including the recipient) knows how expensive the melon is. If a gaijin tries to buy one, I believe it will be made clear to them that this is a very special melon and they should be quite sure that is what they want to buy. You can still buy one if you really want.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2008-10-19 07:12 pm (UTC)It's socially obligatory to bring gifts in some occasions in Japan, like if you visit someone's house, or many other things.
The gifts should, for social correctness, be of a value appropriate to the occasion (this explains the many, many Y500/Y1000/Y1500/etc presents pre-wrapped in railway stations and other shops). It doesn't usually matter what they are; it's the act of giving a certain value that counts. Recipients Will Know how much the item cost you and They Will Notice.
Japanese people don't have much space for stuff, so consumable items are a good gift (hence the many Y500/Y1000/Y1500/etc boxes of local foodstuffs packaged up in every railway station).
If you owe someone bigtime, this all comes together into giving them a melon costing Y22000. It's entirely there so someone can buy it as a very expensive present to someone else because they are socially required to give that person a very expensive present and everyone (including the recipient) knows how expensive the melon is.
If a gaijin tries to buy one, I believe it will be made clear to them that this is a very special melon and they should be quite sure that is what they want to buy. You can still buy one if you really want.