Watermelon cooler push cart: perfect for those sultry North Carolina summers

Crazily enough, the device you're staring at above -- jaw solidly on the floor, we're sure -- is real. As in, you can purchase one for you and yours. So far as we can tell, this here watermelon cart (priced at ¥19,950, or a whopping $231) serves to keep your voluptuous fruit cool when being transported from market to mouth, but everything beyond that is lost in translation. What's curious, however, is that this seems like a device created and sold exclusively in Japan. If we had to bet, though, we'd say it was originally dreamed up by a farmer in eastern North Carolina -- you know, the home of watermelon Cook-Out milkshakes, an official watermelon license plate and roads where chop-top school buses are frequently used as watermelon hauling machines.

[cdf74dc9 Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:02AM]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to stuff it in a $15 cooler with $3 ice cube?

[Morello Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:07AM]

@cdf74dc9

You don't belong in Japan. Please never visit us.

[Osti Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:07AM]

@cdf74dc9 But it's better if your melons are out for people to see.

[snollie Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:10AM]

@Osti Less apples and more watermelons please!

[DJG Posted Jul 20th 2010 7:04AM]

@cdf74dc9
The watermelons are a lie.
They're clearly part of the invasion fleet for our new small alien masters...

[cap87 Posted Jul 20th 2010 8:33AM]

@Osti I see what you did there.

[MooMooChu Posted Jul 20th 2010 8:34AM]

@cdf74dc9
I was in a Japanese supermarket and saw that an orange (admittedly a large, amazingly tasty looking orange) cost $7 - 8 when I converted the yen. If you've forked out on a frigging watermelon ($$!), it's conceivable that there's a market for people who want more a more bling way to carry their fruit.

[Ignoramus Posted Jul 20th 2010 8:15PM]

@cdf74dc9 This would be awesome for gangsters in Mexico to display heads :D

[Ryzvonusef Posted Jul 21st 2010 1:43AM]

@cdf74dc9
You do realise that this the same country that grows watermelons in glass boxes so that they grow up in to perfect cube shapes, just so that they can be packaged easily.

[wbeardell Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:06PM]

@cdf74dc9
keep your melons cold and protected with our new, battery-powered cooler.
With the low-maintenance technology of batteries*, your watermelon will always be ready for you to eat**.

*requires 16 D batteries to operate.
batteries not included.
**silverware pouch extra.

[greggy Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:06AM]

Only in Japan!

[BlackedOut Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:13AM]

This is so niche it's scary.
Why make a product for a target market of like 7 people...

[Kristofir Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:46AM]

@greggy Everything's different in Japan. I even hear that gravitation acceleration in Japan is 8.9 m/s^2.

[CDice Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:47AM]

@A25i

And yet idiots like you are still allowed to exist...

[Spunkie Posted Jul 20th 2010 7:01AM]

@BlackedOut You obviously have never had a vodka watermelon. Its a summer party(College) thing here in north carolina.

[Firelight Posted Jul 20th 2010 7:23AM]

@Spunkie Everclear is the true ingredient of an ECU sanctioned watermelon!

[Spunkie Posted Jul 20th 2010 7:50AM]

@Firelight

SHUUUU your not supposed to tell outsiders that.

You must be from NC, shout out from raleigh. ^_^

[Funke Tobias Dr Posted Jul 20th 2010 8:38AM]

@greggy
North Carolinians are the yankees of the south.

[dallen13 Posted Jul 20th 2010 9:01AM]

@Funke Tobias Dr I can take the watermelon jokes, but THAT, I take true offense to. haha

[shishi Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:13AM]

This changes everything.

[Rohan Posted Jul 20th 2010 7:16AM]

@shishi It's like they're encouraging us to ferment vodka in them...

[archkron Posted Jul 20th 2010 8:27AM]

@shishi

It's Magical and Revolutionary™

[xdeiri Posted Jul 20th 2010 10:22AM]

@shishi
no , this changes everything again. lol

[robotsongs Posted Jul 20th 2010 1:18PM]

@shishi Watermelon consequenses will never be the same!!!!!

[SNESimon Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:14AM]

Looks like an R2- R2 that runs on watermelon.

[Firewave Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:20AM]

Id kill to see someone actually use this:P

[Blurb Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:28AM]

Watermelon milkshakes, something to finally be proud of.

[scyber Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:31AM]

What's with the Japanese and watermelon? Weren't they the ones that invented a square watermelon a few years back so it could fit better in their fridges?

[Bahumbug Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:39AM]

Another chapter in the book of "Things the world doesn't need". It does not come as a surprise that three quarters of the book are written in japanese.

[CDice Posted Jul 20th 2010 6:55AM]

@Bahumbug

Or maybe the Japanese know something we don't? Maybe those mechas they built will come in use soon...

[EatMoreBread Posted Jul 20th 2010 9:42AM]

@Bahumbug

You know, many's the time I've been hauling around a room-temperature watermelon to a party, thinking "boy, this should really be chilled to the proper temperature so that I arrive at my friends' watermelon party with a fresh watermelon at the perfect level of chilledness."

[Wardy125 Posted Jul 20th 2010 7:00AM]

If i wasn't drunk right now... i'd still be pissing myself laughing.

[Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi Posted Jul 20th 2010 7:08AM]

too bad they only have those Milkshakes from July to August.....I want them as early as March....

anyways that cooler cost a bit too much for most people in NC rigjht now....our unemployment is still in the double digits...

[Firelight Posted Jul 20th 2010 7:21AM]

It looks like the offspring of a Roomba & a blue-haired biddy's hair dryer.

As an Eastern NC resident - we're quite familiar with blue-haired biddies, watermelons and Cook-Outs. Now as soon as they - the Japanese that is - find a way to keep BBQ moist-n-warm for mobile transport - then we're talking. (Eastern NC vinegar-based PORK BBQ btw is the ONLY way BBQ should be used in any sentence. Otherwise you're 'grillin' or using ketchup on beef). ;-)

[Boox Posted Jul 20th 2010 7:32AM]

If Apple say IPad!
Melon what say?

[cmunic8r2 Posted Jul 20th 2010 7:35AM]

I'm only using that if the watermelon is infused with some (lots of) alcohol

[nicolescooter Posted Jul 20th 2010 7:39AM]

I'd pay good money to see Darren walk up to a picnic with one of those!

[ch3burashka Posted Jul 20th 2010 7:41AM]

Kanji would be so fucking psyched right about now.

[Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi Posted Jul 20th 2010 7:45AM]

@Hannes The Hun

really?

thats how you feel?

[orbimedia Posted Jul 20th 2010 7:51AM]

There, done down-ranking! Some of you guys are really racist. On a related story... is freaking hot in NC right now!

[Ducman69 Posted Jul 20th 2010 8:04AM]

No cup holder? Where'm I spose to put my grape soda?

[tadghostal Posted Jul 20th 2010 8:09AM]

No real Carolinian would have something so ridiculous. Besides, I like my watermelon room temp - much sweeter that way.

[wineman Posted Jul 20th 2010 8:18AM]

Won't do a thing for the "square watermelon" trade. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1390088.stm

[salamander Posted Jul 20th 2010 8:23AM]

I'm gonnna wait for the Gundam version

[oblivionbp Posted Jul 20th 2010 9:12AM]

You forgot for transport to eastern NC Watermelon Festivals http://www.watermelonfest.com/

[GumbyX Posted Jul 20th 2010 9:21AM]

In Japan, watermelons are serious business. I can't remember how much some sell for, but its a lot. Something like this is actually viable there.

[A25i Posted Jul 20th 2010 9:36AM]

All the ghetto needs now is a fried chicken warmer, and a purple drink dispenser.

[A25i Posted Jul 20th 2010 9:37AM]

@orbimedia
take a joke.

[EatMoreBread Posted Jul 20th 2010 9:39AM]

This + Roomba = Awesome!

[Inspectigator Posted Jul 20th 2010 9:45AM]

@EatMoreBread Roomba! Bring me a chilled watermelon!