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The story
In Kikugawa, Shizuoka Prefecture, the premium branded melon “Aroma Melon” was stolen in a string of incidents between August and September. In some cases unripe fruit had been forcibly torn from the vine, and some scenes even showed melons eaten and left scattered on the spot. While reports noted growers expressing concern for the foreign workers who work alongside them, 5ch users floated all kinds of theories about who was behind it. The discussion ranged widely — from suspicions of wild animals, to criticism over the lack of security cameras, to calls for tougher penalties for crop theft.
“While other Vietnamese workers are out there working so hard” — premium melon “Aroma Melon” theft keeps happening, growers’ anguish; unripe fruit forcibly torn off… some scenes show melons “eaten and left scattered” = Shizuoka
10/10 (Sat) 10:00 — Shizuoka Broadcasting System
In Kikugawa, Shizuoka Prefecture, the local specialty premium branded melon “Aroma Melon” was stolen in a series of incidents between August and September.
Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here
What people said
isn't this just a bear?
crime committed by foreigners has actually dropped sharply.
That line only works on Japanese people from about 20 years ago.
Japanese people these days aren't that naive anymore.
In other words, it backfires.
Personal responsibility.
That's just common sense in Japan 😠
"This isn't a small one. The small ones are sold out."
Strawberry anthracnose sounds scary too (a fungal blight that can wipe out a strawberry patch) — if someone with bad intentions brought in an infected plant during a strawberry-picking event, that would be the end of it.
We only ever show up buck naked in the street.
Background and key points of this discussion
Aroma Melon is a premium branded melon grown as a local specialty in Kikugawa, Shizuoka Prefecture, with each one fetching a high price. What stands out about this round of thefts is that it wasn’t just fruit being carried off for resale — in some cases, unripe melons were found picked and eaten right there on the spot. Because of this pattern, the thread saw two competing theories emerge side by side: one that “the cuts are too clean, so it’s probably a fellow grower,” and another that “this looks like damage from a bear or monkey” — with no single theory winning out. Since the fields apparently had no security cameras installed, some commenters also pointed to a lack of precautions on the growers’ side. The original article does mention foreign workers, but since there’s no solid evidence tying anyone in particular to the thefts, this piece leaves out responses that could amount to slander against a specific nationality or individual.
*This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (News Flash+) thread “Premium melon thefts keep happening, growers’ anguish; unripe fruit forcibly torn off… some scenes show melons “eaten and left scattered” = Shizuoka.”
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