[Anyone can participate!] Traditional “Banana-no-Tatakiuri” salesman haggling in Kitakyushu Mojiko Port!

One thing Mojiko Retro in Kitakyushu is famous for is Banana-no-Tatakiuri, or “discount banana auctions”, a form of sales haggling dating from when bananas were first imported to Japan. This method of attracting customers became famous throughout Japan when the character Tora-san, in the film series Otoko wa Tsurai yo, demonstrated the rhythmical and crisply worded sales talk it is known for.
Here we introduce a popular performance of the style in which even foreign visitors can participate.

Exploring the roots of Banana-no-Tatakiuri

Tradition says that the Banana-no-Tatakiuri sales pitch, which involves haggling the price of bananas like an auction interspersed with witty comments, originated in Mojiko.
The history of the style dates back to 1905. At the time, bananas began to be imported in great quantities from Taiwan, which was under Japanese rule and located close in proximity, and some bananas would go bad during transportation by ship. Considering that bananas were still a luxury item, Banana-no-Tatakiuri began as a way to sell those damaged bananas so they wouldn’t go to waste. Enlivened by the fact that Mojiko was home to the first rail company headquarters in Kyushu (now the Kyushu Railway History Museum), and served as the gateway to Kyushu, the sight of street vendors entertaining their customers while haggling the price of bananas came to be common.
After a while, the custom disappeared with the start of WWII, but it came back as part of local revitalization in 1976, and became famous nationwide through cinema and other media.
This traditional Japanese performance art is now even designated as an intangible cultural asset (part of the Kanmon Nostalgic Straits). Today, the custom is preserved and carried on as a famous performance in Mojiko by the seven organizations that comprise the Mojiko Banana-no-Tatakiuri Federation.

Starting from 13:00 every Saturday and Sunday, anyone can participate!

Banana-no-Tatakiuri is performed every Saturday and Sunday from 13:00 (except on the 5th weekend of the month) in various locations near the Mojiko Retro Bussankan "Minato House". There is no limit to who can apply, so anyone can participate.

Calling out “Expensive!” and “Make it cheaper!” while enjoying the show

The point of Banana-no-Tatakiuri is that the price of the bananas gradually decline from the price initially stated by the seller.
It runs exactly opposite to a normal auction, in that the buyer calls out the price they want to buy at in competition with other buyers. The goal is to lower the price until someone buys the bananas so they don’t go to waste.
Customers often interrupt the boisterous sales talk with interjections like “Expensive!” or “Make it cheaper!”, to which the sales assistants might even agree to with comical effect. When your mind is made up, you call out “Katta! (I’ll take it)” in an exhilarating shout. So enjoy the unique atmosphere that can only be experienced here, and the interaction with the sellers.

Experience banana culture at the Mojiko Banana Data Room!

Located within the Kanmon Strait Museum, the Mojiko Banana Data Room displays panels and local archives describing the roots of Banana-no-Tatakiuri, and a record containing the Bana-Chan Bushi song that demonstrates the style of the sales talk. They also offer a life-size panel of Banana Princess Luna, the official banana fairy, and a photo corner where you can pretend to be a banana salesperson, letting you experience the full banana culture of Mojiko.

Unparalleled banana-love photo spots!?

While Mojiko is known for its nostalgic townscape, there are also several unique photo spots styled after bananas.
The first is this Happy Yellow Banana Post that’s topped with bananas. You can post a letter in this post box just like any other, so this might be a good place to share a memory of your journey with someone important.
Next, in front of JR Mojiko Station, you will find a monument to the “Birthplace of Banana-no-Tatakiuri”. Why not take a commemorative snapshot at one of these photo spots that exemplify Mojiko?

Unique sales talk from seven different organizations: the Banana-no-Tatakiuri is about to start!

The Mojiko Banana-no-Tatakiuri Federation is an organization that protects and passes down the important tradition of Banana-no-Tatakiuri. Currently boasting no less than seven member organizations, each offers street performances featuring unique sales talk.
Many of the respective members are locals who learned the art form at one of the officially offered workshops, such as the Banana-Juku, celebrating its 18th year, or the Bana-Chan Dojo. The sales talk features the Bana-Chan Bushi song, passed down over generations, popular songs, drama, and rhythmical laugh-evoking phrases in the seven-five syllable meter. Each of the member organizations adds their own original aspects, and another benefit is that in addition to the performance itself, you also get a feeling for the personalities of the performers who love Mojiko.
Before actually visiting, you can check out the different Banana-no-Tatakiuri styles of the seven organizations via video.

We interviewed a 40 year veteran of the art! The best part about Banana-no-Tatakiuri

Yuji Hino, chairman of the Banana-no-Tatakiuri Federation, is a senior veteran who has been working to develop and pass down Banana-no-Tatakiuri for 40 years. We asked him what was enjoyable and special about Banana-no-Tatakiuri.

What is the most important thing for you when you perform Banana-no-Tatakiuri?

日野会長（Yuji Hino）

I make sure I’m smiling and try to communicate my own enjoyment to the customers. First, I get them interested with my inviting sales talk, and then build up the excitement by working with the crowd, looking at each one in turn as I push and pull. I always try to be in the moment, such as getting the children on my side, and I try to enjoy myself along with the customers.

Is your sales talk fixed?

日野会長（Yuji Hino）

We have all kinds of sales talk. In addition to the talk passed down over the ages, such as the Bana-Chan Bushi song and rhythmical sales talk in the seven-five syllable meter, we also include all kinds of things like folk songs, trending phrases and songs, and even rap (laugh)”. Recently a worker at the city hall made a new song, the Kitakyushu Kanko Bana-Chan Bushi, that talks about the appeals of tourism in Kitakyushu. So our freedom to create is another appeal.

What is so appealing that you’ve done it for so long?

日野会長（Yuji Hino）

I’ve done Tatakiuri over 1,000 times, and no two times are the same. It’s fun to try to come up with new ways to make the customers enjoy themselves, such as, ‘Maybe next time I’ll say this...’ I will turn 70 this year, but another reason for the longevity is I can leverage my age as part of the performance.

What are your future goals?

日野会長（Yuji Hino）

I want to value what I’ve achieved so far and work hard as a seller, but also work harder on the tradition to tell more people about the history, value, and appeal of the art. Incidentally, I’m also trying to set a new Guinness World Record for the number of bananas eaten in a minute (laugh). I want to try all sorts of new challenges.

Three recommended banana sweets that make great souvenirs to remember Mojiko!

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Here we introduce Banana related souvenirs recommended by Yuji Hino, chairman of the Banana-no-Tatakiuri Federation.

・Banana Castella
There are many choices of Banana Castella cakes, including ones with cream inside and ones cut into long rectangles. They are all rich in banana flavor and very satisfying!

・Banana donuts
Banana paste is blended into the dough of these baked donuts that are rich and moist. They are popular for their banana flavor that is sweet to just the right degree!

・Sonomama Banana
This Manju cake comes a round, small, bite sized form with a soft fluffy outer cake containing bean paste fragrant of banana.

*The information in this article is as of March 2024.