58. Watermelons (in Japan)

:nifty gifty:

Oh, those crazy Japanese. They just love things that aren’t the way they should be – either too small, or too big, or the wrong shape – just like these square watermelons. That’s right. These babies have become a huge phenomenon in the Land of the Rising Sun, selling for over $100.

:japanese cubic watermellies:

Why? Good question. Apparently, the good ol’ American watermelon isn’t good enough for the Japanese. It’s shaped “awkwardly” and takes up too much room in a fridge. So those ever-so-clever Japanese farmers came up with a stratefy to train watermelons into the more useful and convenient square shape. They “insert the melons into square, tempered glass cases while the fruit is still growing on the vine.” (credit)

:snazzy melon mold:

One man has tried to profit off of this glorious phenomenon by making his own website, www.mysquarewatermelon.com, to teach the masses how to grow square watermellies.

:grow my own? really?:

:oh wait, you only have to buy the book!:

For some reason, the site seems to be pushing the purchase of this book….but I’m sure it’s still very helpful.

There’s even Rect-o-Melon art!

:watermelon 'n' bamboo:

My, oh my. So much excitement.

I gotta say, when it comes to rectangular ‘mellies, it seems a lot easier to me to just eat some

Watermelon Jolly Ranchers.

:so much more convenient:

They naturally come as rectangles. You can get, like, 100 for $1.25. And they’re probably made in Japan anyway!

(props to Drew for the tip off)