Still, it was a lot of messy fun for the whole family.
Temperatures have been soaring in Japan, causing a wave of deadly heatstrokes throughout the country. Faced with such scorching heat, everyone is trying to distract themselves from the harshness of the humid summer.
And one person, the daughter of Japanese Twitter user @mohikan1974, thought to bring some cool, refreshing fun to the dinner table with a hollowed-out watermelon half, some ice, straws, and a bottle of Mitsuya Cider (a colorless soda akin to Sprite).
Her concept was straightforward yet ingenious. It involved sticking straws into the sides of the fruit and pouring cold soda into its cavity to form a reservoir. Everyone in the family could then enjoy a refreshing watermelon-flavored soda fountain.
▼ But alas, her experiment had one flaw.
(Translation below)
娘が『すいか味三ツ矢サイダー自動飲み器』を発明して天才かよと思ったけど、飲み切るまでストローから口を離せない拷問器具でした。 pic.twitter.com/oQba7WnqrI
— もひかん (@mohikan1974) July 18, 2018
“I thought my daughter was a genius when she came up with an idea for a watermelon-flavored Mitsuya Cider automatic drinking apparatus. But since we couldn’t take our mouths off of the straws, it turned out to be a torture device instead.”
Like a brilliant science experiment gone wrong, liquid began streaming out of the straws as soon as soda hit the cavity, with the only option being drinking it all up or blocking the straws. Either way, everyone would have been stuck at the table until the last drops of Mitsuya Cider were drained. While it caused a bit of a mess, we imagine the surprised family had a good laugh out of it.
▼ Perhaps this marks the start of a science career for the daughter.
Japanese netizens thought it was great entertainment nonetheless:
“That’s terrible! I’ve not laughed out loud like this in a long while.”
“Your daughter will understand the fundamentals of siphon mechanics by the time summer vacation ends.”
“It would have turned out better if the straw was inserted diagonally upwards.”
“What an interesting and fun torture device.”
“This kind of stuff makes me smile.”
Summer is sizzling hot over here, and despite that watermelon soda device not cooling everyone down as expected, we’re impressed with how the daughter unwittingly turn the whole affair into a lively family activity.
Source: Twitter/@mohikan1974 via Hachima Kiko
Featured image: Twitter/@mohikan1974
Insert image: Pakutaso


Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
161-year-old Kyoto confectionary maker releases new edible Pokémon lineup
7-Eleven Japan is releasing Greedy chocolate chip and whipped cream sandwiches
Studio Ghibli’s president is leaving the company. Will it change how they make anime?
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
161-year-old Kyoto confectionary maker releases new edible Pokémon lineup
7-Eleven Japan is releasing Greedy chocolate chip and whipped cream sandwiches
Studio Ghibli’s president is leaving the company. Will it change how they make anime?
7-Eleven Japan now has ramen machines…but only at 41 stores
Saltiest ramen in Japan? Ikebukuro White goes viral for crazy salt levels
Starbucks Japan adds a new Frappuccino and Milk to the menu, but are they worth the calories?
Live-action Princess Mononoke stage cast appears in costume for first time[Video]
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Starbucks Japan releases two new “chunky” drinks… and matching gel designs for our nails
Mt. Fuji hot spring inn gets even more beautiful after dark with Firefly Festival
Japan releases new ramen sandwiches… that don’t taste like ramen
This train station bento boxed lunch shop has been in business for nearly 100 years
Don’t miss the Tokyo Tower City Light Fantasia ~Summer Landscape 2026~ event during your travels
McDonald’s Japan hack: Make a Chicken Tatsuta in five minutes anywhere in the world
Japanese criminals are now using crabs to hunt for burglary targets
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Move aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
7-Eleven Japan now has ramen machines…but only at 41 stores
Saltiest ramen in Japan? Ikebukuro White goes viral for crazy salt levels
Starbucks Japan adds a new Frappuccino and Milk to the menu, but are they worth the calories?
Live-action Princess Mononoke stage cast appears in costume for first time[Video]
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Starbucks Japan releases two new “chunky” drinks… and matching gel designs for our nails
Nintendo reveals live-action Legend of Zelda movie is coming sooner than we’d thought
7-Eleven Japan upsizes popular products like egg sando and pork ramen but how big are they really?
Now you can carry the unnerving terror and beauty of Noh masks with you with new pouches from Japan
“They’ve got be kidding me.” – Mayor in Japan fed up with off-season Mt. Fuji hikers needing rescue
Japan’s life-size moving Gundam closes down, gets sent off in style with fireworks, drone art 【Video】
Man tells Nintendo HQ “I’m going to blow you all the hell up,” gets arrested by Kyoto cops
Tokyo’s new life-size Gundam giant robot statue to be completed, open to public next month
Don’t miss the Tokyo Tower City Light Fantasia ~Summer Landscape 2026~ event during your travels