Bananas: Made in Taiwan Bananas Enter Tokyo Olympic Athletes' Village

The banana originated in Southeast Asia and India, brought to central Taiwan from China in 1731 for cultivation. At that time, Japan had no such fruit. It wasn't until 1895, during Japanese rule of Taiwan, that the first Governor-General Kabayama Sukenori presented two boxes to Emperor Meiji. In 1909, Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the fifth Governor-General Sakuma Samata again offered premium bananas from Jiji, Nantou to the emperor. That November, the Taiwan Nichinichi Shinpo declared that "Emperor Meiji loves eating bananas most," even calling Taiwan bananas "imperial food."

These premium Jiji mountain bananas were shipped to Japan in baskets, and if a basket bore the character "千" (thousand), it signified superior quality—imperial grade. This endorsement propelled bananas to become Japan's most beloved Taiwanese fruit. By 1924, Taiwan was exporting over 100,000 tons of bananas to Japan annually.

Bananas Score Big in Domestic Markets Too—Taiwanese Consume 70 Bananas Per Person Annually

Throughout the 1960s, bananas consistently represented 8-10% of Taiwan's total export value, with export volumes ranking fourth globally, earning Taiwan the coveted title of "Banana Kingdom."

During this era, banana production centered in central and southern Taiwan. The central regions primarily served domestic markets, while southern Kaohsiung's Qishan district became the main export hub, shipping primarily overseas. Before Qishan bananas could be exported to Japan, they were stored in Kaohsiung Port's banana sheds. In 2010, this storage facility was transformed into the tourist attraction Banana Wharf, showcasing the scenes and stories of the bygone banana storage days—Taiwan's sole remaining historical architecture dedicated to the banana industry.

Bananas also rank among Taiwanese people's favorite fruits. According to 2018 statistics, Taiwan's per capita banana consumption averaged about 11.2 kilograms annually—roughly 70 bananas. Whether grabbing one before or after workouts or reaching for one when hungry, bananas became a staple. The iconic Banana Boat offered something more whimsical: a halved banana filled with three scoops of ice cream, topped with whipped cream and fruit garnishes shaped as masts and sails—a cherished childhood memory for generations of Taiwanese.