30 Million Yen Gold Calendar

ZHANG:
With Christmas around the corner, today a Japanese gold maker unveiled a 2009 calendar made of pure gold. The price: 300-thousand U.S. dollars. Are you tempted?


STORY:
The 67 by 42 centimeter calendar has all the days of the next year printed on one side. Weighing in at six kilograms, it is no paperweight ornament.

The price tag of 30 million yen or $300-thousand U.S. dollars is not lightweight, either.

[Naoto Mizuki, Marketing Manager]:
"We're selling this gold calendar for 30 million yen just like we did last year. The price of gold has declined recently, but it was much higher at the beginning of this year when we first decided to sell this calendar."

With the recent global financial crisis, people fearful of their bank deposits and money market accounts are now investing on gold jewelry and coins.

[Naoto Mizuki, Marketing Manager]:
"In 2008 the price of gold fluctuated pretty wildly. However before the subprime loan issue and the ongoing financial crisis - which some even refer to as another great depression - I would not have imagined how much gold would become relied on as a safe haven investment."

Gold dealers around the world reported that physical gold buying has soared, particularly in places like India and the Middle East.

In Tokyo, however, shoppers are not rushing to buy Ginza Tanaka's 30 million yen calendar.

[Tomoki Hashiyama, Jewelry Customer]:
"With our ordinary lifestyle, I can't even imagine purchasing one, but it does look very luxurious when placed in a store."

Nevertheless, Ginza Tanaka says it's been selling these calendars every year since 2006 at the same price. And so, for the lucky few, the calendar will surely brighten up their new year.

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