Believe it or not, seeing a photo like this nearly 10 years ago is the reason I started learning Japanese. How wonderful it would be to get to travel to a country that took such meticulous care in fruit, I thought? Well here I am, in Japan, indulging in a gluttonous amount of purple perfection all these years later.
The best part about grapes, and all fruit in Japan for that matter, is that these aren't special bunches of grapes. This locally grown greatness is what you'll find everywhere all season long. It's astounding, really. No need to squeeze for ripeness or taste for quality. You're essentially guaranteed 100% satisfaction everytime. That's quite a bargain you might think, but it comes with a price.
Yes, that's right. That's 7000 Yen ($82) for 2 bunches of grapes. I went on to find a single bunch of grapes for as much as 8500 Yen ($100!) in one supermarket! So did I buy them? Heeeell no I didn't. I'd smoke crack just as soon as I'd pay 2 bucks a grape. 8500 Yen could get to me Hiroshima and back, twice. I'll take that over grapes anyday...
I was lucky enough, however, to receive a never ending supply of these brilliantly delicious treats all season long. Coworkers, neighbors, schools, friends; they all seemed to want to be the person that gave me (a foreigner) the most delicious grapes I'd ever taste. Well congratulations Japan, you not only gave me the most delicious grapes of a lifetime, you gave me 800 of them.
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