| AOMORI, Oct. 30 – The “Aomorik Cube” puzzle featuring six different Aomori-made apple skins on all sides is causing a buzz for being too difficult to solve. Each side of the six-sided 3D puzzle has a picture of skins of different but all red apples, making it extremely difficult. It is a challenge from Aomori Prefecture, which required two days to solve even for the official of Aomori’s Tourist Attraction and Exchanges Section, who planned the item to promote apples produced in the northernmost prefecture on Japan’s main island.
The Aomorik Cube uses pictures of skins of Fuji, Jonagold, Sekai-Ichi, Kogyoku, Chiyuki, and Mutsu apples. It was released on October 17 at 11 shops in Aomori and soon became so popular that many stores ran temporarily out of stock. The official in charge of this product can solve a regular six-sided 3D puzzle in about three to five minutes, but it took two days to solve the Aomorik Cube. “This is exceptional,” she said. One prefectural official solved it in 10 minutes, so she vows to continue improving. Many purchase it as a gift or a souvenir for friends and families living outside the prefecture. The 6cm cube puzzle is sold at local tourist facilities and farmers’ markets at 3,000 yen per piece.  Aomorik Cube featuring six different types of apples (Photo by Aomori Prefecture Aomori Prefecture, Tourist Attraction and Exchanges Section) |