JAPAN: A Japanese jeweller gives Christmas some extra sparkle with a 4.2 million U.S. dollar Christmas decoration made of solid gold Disney characters

Record ID: 466737

  • Title: JAPAN: A Japanese jeweller gives Christmas some extra sparkle with a 4.2 million U.S. dollar Christmas decoration made of solid gold Disney characters
  • Date: 22nd November 2012
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (NOVEMBER 22, 2012) (REUTERS) GINZA TANAKA BUILDING WHERE GOLDEN CHRISTMAS DECORATION IS ON DISPLAY CHRISTMAS WREATH IN FRONT OF GOLDEN CHRISTMAS DECORATION GOLD CHRISTMAS DECORATION ROTATING WITH DISNEY CHARACTERS GOLD MICKEY MOUSE PEOPLE TAKING PHOTOS OF DECORATION MORE OF PEOPLE TAKING PHOTOS OF DECORATION (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TANAKA KIKINZOKU JEWELLERY PUBLIC RELATIONS SECTION CHIEF MANAGER TOMOKO ISHIBASHI SAYING: "Right now gold is over 4,400 yen per gram, and so we used pure gold and had an expert craftsman craft each famous Disney character by hand. So while the price is indeed 350 million yen we believe that it's still quite a deal." GOLD CHRISTMAS DECORATION GOLD MICKEY MOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 36-YEAR-OLD JEWELLER TAKASHI MIURA SAYING: "It's very vivid and the gold is very pretty. The characters on it are also really cute and looking at it, it really looks like a Christmas tree." PEOPLE LOOKING AT DECORATION ALICE IN WONDERLAND GOLD CHARACTERS PEOPLE TAKING PICTURES OF DECORATION GOLD DISNEY CHARACTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 74-YEAR-OLD RETIREE HIROKO MASUNAGA SAYING: "I just wanted to have one look at it before heading home. I really like gold, and I really like Disney so it's wonderful. I want it myself but it is indeed quite expensive." GOLD CHRISTMAS DECORATION MORE OF GOLD DISNEY CHARACTERS DISNEY CHARACTERS AND CHRISTMAS WREATH
  • Embargoed: 7th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVABMPN1IOLC7NDWY6JH2K73R647
  • Story Text: For those looking to glitz up Christmas this year one jewellery store in downtown Tokyo has just the thing - a pure gold revolving decoration complete with Disney characters, if you can afford the 4.2 million U.S. dollars (350 million yen) price tag.
    The decoration was made by Ginza Tanaka, a jewellery store that specializes in gold accessories. The store worked in collaboration with Walt Disney Japan to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Walt Disney.
    Called "Disney Gold Christmas Tree", the decoration is made of 40 kilograms of pure gold, measuring about 2.4 meters high and 1.2 meters across.
    It is the single most expensive Walt Disney Japan-licensed merchandise ever to go on sale.
    Despite the steep price, Tomoko Ishibashi, chief manager of Tanaka Kikinzoku Jewellery's marketing department, said that it was still a deal.

    "Right now gold is over 4,400 yen per gram, and so we used pure gold and had an expert craftsman craft each famous Disney character by hand. So while the price is indeed 350 million yen we believe that it's still quite a deal."
    The carousel consists of 50 pure gold cutouts of Disney's most popular characters including Mickey Mouse, Tinkerbell and Cinderella on its three revolving platforms.
    It is also draped with ribbons of gold leaves and a golden chain, and for the tree topper it has the famous silhouette of Mickey Mouse's head.

    "It's very vivid and the gold is very pretty. The characters on it are also really cute and looking at it, it really looks like a Christmas tree," said 36-year-old Takashi Miura, himself a jeweller.
    It took 10 craftsmen two months to complete, as they carved and polished all of the characters by hand.
    Although the price may be out reach for many, shoppers still visited the store just to get a look at the golden decoration.

    "I just wanted to have one look at it before heading home. I really like gold, and I really like Disney so it's wonderful. I want it myself but it is indeed quite expensive," explained 74-year-old Hiroko Masunaga, who was visiting from the southern prefecture of Fukuoka.
    Ginza Tanaka is also offering a scaled down version of the tree called, "Disney Mini Christmas Tree," which stands at 25 centimetres high and features 20 silver Disney characters for 243,000 U.S. dollars (2 million yen) While no one has yet decided to fork out for the larger model, the miniature version has already found buyers.
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