Bananas do not grow in Tokyo, but are still a city symbol

Bananas do not grow in Tokyo, but are still a city symbol

You can't visit Tokyo without seeing the famous Tokyo Banana. These light yellow packaging, which are filled with individually packaged, bite -sized cakes, are decorated with pictures of the best -known sights of the capital and sometimes also with popular Japanese animation figures.

Tokyo Banana: An official snack in the capital

annually hundreds of thousands of gold-lacquered Tokyo Banana are sold in the traffic and tourist areas of the Japanese capital and advertised as the official snack in the city.

a connection to the heart of Tokios

But what does Tokyo Banana actually have to do with Tokyo where there are no banana trees? In contrast to many Japanese delicacies that are made from regional ingredients and centuries old traditions (think of Udon noodles, green tea and yuzu candies), Tokyo Banana was born exclusively from capitalist considerations.

The history of the creation of Tokyo Banana

In the 20th century, when Tokyo attracted the largest city in the world and international tourism, the residents and visitors lacked many traditions with which they could identify. There was no outstanding food or drink that was unique for Tokyo or could look back on a long story.

In comparison, Kyoto, which was Japan's capital from the 8th to the 19th century, has a deeply rooted culinary history: a restaurant has been presenting since planted buckwheat. Japan also houses The oldest hotel in the world that opened 705.

Tokyo Banana and the Omiyage culture

The Japanese snack manufacturer Grapestone recognized this gap and decided to develop a Tokyo-centered product that could be marketed as a local specialty. "Tokyo is the place where people come together from all over Japan and it becomes home for them," a representative of Grapestone told CNN.

"We wanted to invent a souvenir for Tokyo that is familiar and nostalgic for all Japanese. Bananas are considered to be a taste of high -quality products or imported. For younger people, however, they awake funny memories of school excursions."

The result is banana -shaped treats that are fluffy on the outside and filled with a banana creme on the inside.

gifts from Tokyo for the world

Tokyo Banana is an excellent example of omiyage, a Japanese tradition in which traveling gifts - mostly edible - bring with you for their friends, families and colleagues. Omiyage is more than just a souvenir; In Japan, you often have delicacies or drinks that should be consumed quickly after returning.

The gifts are usually food that only come from a certain region or are known for their special quality. Examples of this are salt from the sunny islands of Okinawa, traditional Matcha from Kyoto or apple covering from the Prefecture Aomori in northern Japan.

an international sensation

Although Omiyage is a Japanese tradition, the largest market for Tokyo Banana is foreign travelers, not locals. According to Grapestone, this was intentional: In the 1990s, the company was offered retail rati in Tokyo, which led to the creation of Tokyo Banana.

With her Tokyo brand and clear English product names, Tokyo Banana quickly identified with the city. Jeff Lui, a Canadian who lives in Japan, believes that Tokyo Banana is excellently geared towards international tourists.

"" You almost feel obliged to buy this omiyage for friends at home. It is a way to say: 'Hey, I thought of you while I was there, and here is something that I know you will use it.' "

The viral phenomenon in social media

The matter looks different on social media. Tikok users from all over the world plunge to the delicacies as soon as they arrive in Tokyo. Some show the rare tastes that they have got, while other tips give you to the family. Like the American Twinkie, they are as funny to crush as to eat.

The Tikok review by Creator Eat Adrian to Tokyo Banana generated about 260,000 views, and commentators express how much they want to buy some for themselves.

The taste buds on exploration tour

Although Thompson, who has lived in Japan for around eight years, has to admit that she is not a great friend of Tokyo Banana, friends and relatives have already asked for it in her home country USA.

"I don't really grab Tokyo Banana. My personal favorite snack when I travel internationally, the Sugar Butter Sand Trees. You have a funny name, but it is actually a delicious biscuit." Coincidentally, this biscuit is also a product from Grapestone.

lui agrees that Tokyo Banana is not necessarily his personal favorite, but he often sees that friends have questions about it when you visit. "Every time someone comes from Toronto to Japan, hear: 'Oh, I heard of this Tokyo Banana thing and bought a few packs to take them home.'" Japanese snacks and tries to steer people in other directions, especially if they want to visit Japan repeatedly and discover something deeper.

New taste experiences by Tokyo Banana

In recent years, Tokyo Banana has tried to become more popular with the locals. Grapestone regularly brings new flavors such as lemon, sakura or honey on the market. In order to attract attention, certain products are only available at a certain point of sales, such as in your shop in the chic Ginza district.

The brand has with popular, local figures such as Pikachu, ChiikaWa, Hello" Kitty and Doraemon cooperated. There is also a Tokyo Banana taste from Kit Kat.

Tokyo Banana opened a flagship store in the Tokyo Station in 2022. To celebrate this event, a hearty product was tested, a variant of the popular Japanese currybrot, filled with "pig and beef, which was braised with onions, cream and banana puree."

grapestone does not indicate any exact sales figures for the year, but on your website it says that Tokyo Banana is the most popular food souvenir in the Japanese capital. The brand told CNN that if you would interpret all Tokyo bananas that were sold in one year, you could cross the Pacific Ocean from Tokyo to the United States with the small cakes. As a rule, however, they travel by plane.

Editor’s Note: CNNS Soyon Nishioka contributed to reporting.