Chugen Wars Begin

[Mulboyne]

NikkeiNet: Mitsukoshi open the chugen gift centre in their Nihombashi store one day earlier than last year. The scramble for the shrinking chugen pie begins.

[Captain Japan]

The ultimate ochugen...

Two melons sell for Y300,000 each
Kyodo via Japan Today

SAPPORO — Two Yubari melons sold for 300,000 yen each at the first sale of the season Monday at the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market. According to a spokesperson for an agricultural cooperative in Yubari-shi, the bidding price was the highest ever.

Ogasawara Shoten, a souvenir shop in Chitose, was the successful bidder. It displayed them at New Chitose Airport and plans to put them up for sale on the Internet.

Since it snowed a lot in Hokkaido this year, the melon season was late. Yubari melons are renowned for their high quality and sweet taste.

Wataru Ogasawara, 38, a senior manager at Ogasawara Shoten, is looking forward to the auction. "These melons are quite valuable, so I wonder how much they will fetch." (Translated from news reports by Kaori Suzuki)

[dimwit]

And undoubtedly the bittys will be lined up around the block. Does anyone under the age of 60 shop at Mitsukoshi? The place is for shopper without a clue.

[Captain Japan]

Summer gifts get posh as boomers targeted
Gomiuri

Department stores have tapped into the demand of consumers wishing to honor the many baby-boomers retiring this year by offering items in their ranges of midsummer gifts far more luxurious than the everyday items usually on display.

Chugen gifts are traditionally given to superiors and acquaintances, and tend to be summer-themed items such as beer, somen noodles and confectionery.

However, this year, the adult children and acquaintances of retirees are buying more expensive chugen gifts as tokens of gratitude for years of hard work both at home and work, and, in the case of the offspring, to express appreciation for raising them.

People are even ordering luxury chugen gifts for themselves, in an illustration of the recovering economy and recent popularity of ordering foodstuffs from well-known stores.

Takashimaya department stores, in conjunction with travel firm JTB Corp., is offering three-day package tours to the Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture, and Kyoto as part of their range of chugen items.

A trip for two adults to Kyoto is priced between 550,000 yen and 600,000 yen, and between 600,000 yen and 700,000 yen to Izu. The Izu packages include stays at exclusive ryokan inns and transport home by helicopter or a chauffeured car....more...

Taro, what is your strategy for getting on ochugen mailing lists?

[Ke11iente]

NikkeiNet: Mitsukoshi open the chugen gift centre in their Nihombashi store one day earlier than last year. The scramble for the shrinking chugen pie begins.

Was that picture taken in Japan or Germany?

[IkemenTommy]

Is it already that time of the year for seeing lots of bribery?

[baka tono]

I didnt know it had an actual date july 15 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chugen

[IkemenTommy]

I didnt know it had an actual date july 15 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chugen

Of course they have an official day. Just like VD.. as in Valentine's Day occurring every Feb 14