Table of contents:
Summary
The site explores the remarkable distinctions between fruits in Japan and Germany, highlighting the extraordinary prices and aesthetic qualities of Japanese produce. With a background rooted in Germany, the author is astonished by the exquisite appearance and taste of fruit in Japan, where a mango can range from 10 to 500 euros. Japanese fruits are regulated for size, color, and flavor, with farmers focusing on quality by cultivating fewer fruits to enhance sweetness through careful cultivation methods, including hand harvesting and even massaging melons. In Japanese culture, fruit is regarded as a luxury item and often given as a gift to express gratitude or honor, with perfection being paramount. The site also discusses the high prices of unique fruits, such as premium strawberries sold in lavish packaging, and the romantic connotations associated with certain fruits. Overall, the article delves into the cultural and economic significance of fruit in Japan, emphasizing its status as a symbol of luxury and aesthetics.In this article, I will tell you about the incredible differences between fruits in Japan and those in Germany. I grew up in Germany and have known the prices, appearance, taste and packaging here since childhood. That’s why I could hardly believe my eyes in Japan when I saw how perfect the fruit looks there – and how expensive it is too! A mango can cost between 10 and 500 euros. Even if the fruit from the Japanese supermarket looks like it’s from a picture book – in Germany, normal earners would probably never spend that much money “just” for beautiful fruit!
What makes Japanese fruit so special?
In short: It’s beautiful and tastes absolutely delicious! There are various regulations of the Japanese agricultural cooperative that determine the size, color and flavor palette of the fruit for sale. In addition, usually only a very few fruits are grown on a single bush or tree so that they can develop a maximum sweetness and an excellent taste.
Fruits are boutique goods
Japan’s land mass consists of 80% mountains. This means that there is hardly any space for large fruit farms. Most fruit in Japan is therefore produced by farmers who only have a few plants, but who put all their energy into perfecting the fruit from them. For example, with the famous watermelons of the Shizuoka region, only one melon grows per plant. The young melons are regularly massaged by the farmer to achieve a higher sweetness level. Fruit is also almost always harvested by hand. For sale, they are placed in valuable packaging or individually packaged in cellophane.
Fruit as a gift
Fruit in Japan is not simply food, but has a very special place in society and culture. It is not seen as a snack, but as a luxury item – the more perfect the fruit, the more exclusive it is as a gift! Fruit is given when gratitude or respect is to be expressed, or when the Japanese want to impress or pamper someone. Even after particularly chic dinners, sliced fruit is often offered. Because fruit has this exclusive status, it must also be absolutely flawless and presentable: Without dents or pressure marks, perfectly rounded and in attractive, appetizing colors. Besides particularly beautiful fruits, other gourmet foods are also popular gifts: These include tea and even steaks!
Luxury: Fruit
On the one hand, the fruits that are already perfect in appearance are usually gifted. On the other hand, there is also very special fruit that is sold at top prices of over 3,500 euros. For this stately sum, for example, a particularly exclusive grapevine can be bought as a wedding present! There are also cube-shaped or black watermelons and pentagonal oranges.
Strawberries in Japan
A package of 9 strawberries, all of which are the same red color, have no dents, have a perfect shape and are also wrapped in padding, costs 20 euros in the supermarket. The price can also go much higher, such as with white strawberries, which can also cost over 100 euros. These strawberries are given as gifts for special occasions in Japan instead of chocolates, as we know them.
Romantic strawberries
Strawberries are considered a very romantic fruit in Japan. That’s why they are especially popular with lovers.
Apples in Japan
Japanese apples are also very different from German ones. In the normal supermarket you pay 7 euros for 3 apples.
Honeydew melon in Japan
Honeydew melons are among the most expensive fruits in Japan. When I wanted to buy a melon at the supermarket, the price was 33.52 euros. Quite a lot when you consider how much you would pay for it here in Germany. Even if Japanese melons look much nicer and taste sweeter, it’s not worth it for me to buy them. People with thicker wallets can treat themselves to very special honeydew melons with a perfect pattern for up to 11,000 euros. You can get these luxury melons in chic boutiques that resemble jewelry stores. The fruits are stored there behind closed glass display cases, and the decor in these shops is very elegant.
Grapes in Japan
Grapes in Japan are very thick and the size of a German strawberry. They taste incredibly sweet and all have the same appearance. You pay about 9 euros for a normal bowl in a supermarket.
Is all fruit in Japan perfect?
You can easily get deformed or not quite perfect fruit if you shop at farmers’ markets. Farmers are allowed to sell fruits there that don’t look quite as drawn. Also in the countryside, outside of big cities, you get “normal” fruit if it’s in season. Farmers often process “defective” fruit into vinegar or marmalade.
Food Waste in Japan
Unfortunately, the desire for perfect fruit results in a lot of avoidable food waste. While fruit in Western supermarkets is often allowed to stay on the shelves for 3-4 days, in Japan it is often disposed of after only 1-2 days. However, since there is no “mass production” of fruit as we know it, much more effort is made to keep the few products produced as attractive as possible.
Comments
Den Beitrag finde ich eigentlich gut, aber mir fehlen ein paar wichtige Punkte bei dem Thema.
Wieso müssen die Früchte perfekt sein? Wie kommt der Preis zustande? Was ist mit der Ausschussware?
Dass man zB nur die schönste Melone reifen lässt und darum die anderen abschneidet, damit sich die Pflanze nur auf diese eine konzentrieren kann.
In Europa möchte man FoodWaste reduzieren und ist von der Normierung für gerade Gurken etc abgekommen um auch krumme zu verkaufen. Wie sehen das Japaner? Je perfekter etwas aussehen muss, desto mehr Ausschussware gibt es auch.
Liebe Monika, schön, dass dir der Beitrag gefallen hat. Danke für deinen Kommentar - wir haben den Beitrag schon ergänzt. Hier aber noch einmal die Antwort auf deine Fragen: Obst in Japan wird als Luxusware wahrgenommen, nicht als "notwendiges" Nahrungsmittel. Früchte werden deshalb gerne verschenkt (und gelten auch als wertiges Präsent). Deshalb müssen sie möglichst attraktiv aussehen. Ausschussware wird auf Märkten direkt von den Bauern verkauft oder auch zu Essig oder Marmeladen verarbeitet. Die japanische Agrikultur-Kooperative hat leider sehr strenge Richtlinien, was Aussehen und Geschmack der Früchte betrifft, die verkauft werden dürfen. Bezüglich Food Waste müsste hier also auf politischer Ebene noch einiges passieren. Mit freundlichen Grüßen Rafaela von RyuKoch
Liebe Rafaela
Vielen Dank für deine Antwort. Der Beitrag ist jetzt wirklich ausführlich und trotzdem anschaulich und gut erklärt, ihr habt keine Frage offen gelassen.
Liebe Grüsse
Monika
Hi Monika, vielen lieben Dank für deinen Kommentar :) VG Matthias und Ryusei
Toll und anschaulich verfasster Artikel.
Vielen Dank! Liebe Grüße Ryusei
Ich habe den Artikel erst heute gefunden und interessiert gelesen. Ich finde es gut, dass es in Japan strengere Richtlinien gibt und dass die Früchte gut verpackt werden.
Ein Großteil dessen, was in deutschen Supermärkten an angeblich "frischem" Obst/Gemüse verkauft wird, wäre in Japan sicherlich unverkäuflich. Und das hat nichts mit krummen Produkten zu tun, sondern mit alter, teilweise falsch gelagerter und vergammelter Ware - ungesunder Ware! Zu oft sehe ich hier verdorbenes, schimmeliges Obst/Gemüse. Wenn ich nur das frische und unverdorbene aus einer Packung verwerte, bin ich zuweilen auch bei Kilopreisen von 20 und mehr Euro.
Danke, Gabi! Es stimmt, die Qualität des Obstes und Gemüses in Deutschland lässt manchmal zu wünschen übrig. Da könnten wir von Japan viel lernen! Liebe Grüße Ryusei
美しく説明され、レポートされています。私たちは約1週間後に東京と京都の美しい2つの都市への旅行から戻ったばかりですが、あなたのレポートのすべてがまさに正確です...日本は美しく、料理が素晴らしく、規律があります...私たちは2026年2月に再び訪れます...リュウさん、幸運を祈ります...
vielen lieben Dank für dein Feedback.
Liebe Grüße, Ryusei