- No-41
- Tatakiuri Banana Auctions
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■ Commentary
The tatakiuri auctions of bananas are a way to sell bananas using a type of auction that is said to have developed in the Kanmon region. The seller draws in customers while using breezy speech, then starting with a high price, he gradually lowers the price in this Dutch style of auctioning. Standing next to the chattering seller is an assistant who accepts the money and hands the bananas wrapped in newspaper to customers. Using a tone of voice that amuses the customers, the assistant’s interjections of “Sold!,” “Still too high!,” and “Go lower” energize the scene.
Bananas began being imported into Japan around 1903 when tradesmen from Keelung, Taiwan brought them into Kobe. They were imported in large amounts from 1908 until 4 or 5 years after the war. Taiwan is, geographically close to Moji Port and Shimonoseki City and at the time was a territory of Japan at the time, and a large volume of bananas were unloaded.
The bananas were shipped while green and auctioned by 30–40 brokers (wholesalers). The sold green bananas were steamed for a time in a room (basement) and sold on the market when they had turned yellow. However, there were bananas that ripened during transport, colloquially called kagoure (ripened in the basket), and bananas that would be difficult to sell because they were damaged during transport. Bananas that had no value as a product had to be converted to money as soon as possible in the market. Gathering customers using the chatter of stall-keepers to sell out products was the beginning of Tatakiuri Banana Auctions. At first, it is believed that the chatter did not go on for very long, but that little by little elements such as popular songs and 7-5 syllable meter were incorporated.
In time, imports were interrupted as the war heated up and tatakiuri faded away. From the 1970s, local residents worked to revive it as a part of regional revitalization in Moji Port, and the practice was restarted in 1976. It became famous throughout Japan through a scene in the movie, “Otoko wa Tsurai yo (It’s Tough Being a Man).” The scene in which the character, Tora-san who was played by Kiyoshi Atsumi, learns how to auction bananas from an expert from Saga was popular and started a craze.
Today, to further boost this traditional performance, the tradition of Tatakiuri Banana Auctions is kept aliveare handed down by the “Moji Port Tatakiuri Banana Auctions Association ” that was established by a group carrying out tatakiuri banana auctions of bananas. In addition, together with the Moji Ward Office the association holds a “Moji Port Banana Class.” To date over 100 people have participated. In the class, participants learn things including the history of tatakiuri, banachan bushisetsu (songs), and witty chatter that lowers the price using smooth speech. -
■ Information
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Other/Notifications：Unspecified (intangible folk culture)
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■Category
Category: Constituent cultural properties
Genre: Story 2
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