Hello Kitty Branded Melons Return to Japan

Japan does not shy away from the weird, wacky, and wonderful. So it really should be no surprise they are the ones responsible for the latest crazy food craze – Hello Kitty Melons.

Now, if your brain works in a logical way, you may be asking, “What does a Hello Kitty melon even mean?”

To be honest, it means exactly that. It is a melon (of the fruit variety) that has had a medium-sized Hello Kitty image carved into the skin prior to harvest. Through the natural growth processes it creates an easily recognizable image as the grooves grow over and create natural scars in the melon. The result resembles the Hello Kitty logo.

While I would love to say this is a new trend in Japan, it is actually quite the opposite. Hello Kitty branded food, such as steak, donuts, and fruit, is a strangely popular concept and the melons, in particular, have been produced periodically since 2010.

If you purchased one of the Hello Kitty melons in 2014, their anniversary year, you would have scored it in a limited edition fancy red box. This year it will come in a small green and white cardboard box, of course with the company’s branding everywhere.

Let’s talk price. Hello Kitty melons are significantly more expensive than a regular melon and are set to go on sale soon for 5,400 yen ($53USD). If you can’t contain your excitement any longer, head on over to the Sanrio website for more information about the growth process and how you can get your hands on the special fruit.

Photo credits: Silatip/Shutterstock.com