＜prologue＞
I started a blog called “The Baby Boomer Generation’s Miscellaneous Blog”（Dankai-sedai no garakutatyou:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳） in July 2018, about a year before I fully retired. More than six years have passed since then, and the number of articles has increased considerably.
So, in order to make them accessible to people who don’t understand Japanese, I decided to translate my past articles into English and publish them.
It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I would like to make this my life’s work.
It should be noted that haiku and waka （Japanese short fixed form poems） are quite difficult to translate into English, so some parts are written in Japanese.
If you are interested in haiku or waka and would like to know more, please read introductory or specialized books on haiku or waka written in English.
I also write many articles about the Japanese language. I would be happy if these inspire more people to want to learn Japanese.
my blog’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳 | 団塊世代が雑学や面白い話を発信しています
my X’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多帳（@historia49）さん / X
From 2018 to 2019, there was a huge “tapioca boom,” and even in satellite cities like Takatsuki, five or six “tapioca specialty shops” opened one after another like bamboo shoots after a rain, causing long lines. However, the boom seems to have died down now, and some stores are deserted.
1. “Banana Juice Specialty Shop Boom”
By the way, from 2019 to 2020, there seems to have been a boom in “banana juice specialty shops,” with specialty shops opening one after another in Tokyo. One shop (Crum’s Banana) has even opened in Takatsuki.
I’ve ordered “mixed juice” at coffee shops before, but I hadn’t heard of “banana juice” until recently.
Why is “banana juice” so popular right now?
(1) Health and Beauty Benefits of Bananas
① Relief of Constipation
Bananas are rich in potassium and dietary fiber, which regulate intestinal function and help relieve constipation.
② Supplementing Carbohydrates Before and After Exercise
It’s an easy way to replenish nutrients and sugar, and it doesn’t easily turn into fat, making it ideal for before or after exercise. You often see professional golfers eating bananas during rounds.
③ Good for the Brain
It’s rich in vitamin B6, which supports fetal brain development, making it ideal for pregnant women.
(2) Naturally Sweet, Not Overly Sweet
Banana juice is typically made with fresh bananas and milk, and no added sugar, resulting in a naturally sweet flavor that’s not too sweet.
CRAMS BANANA, a specialty shop in Takatsuki City, specializes in creamy, rich banana juice. Banana Juice in Ginza, Tokyo, specializes in using fully ripe bananas and offers a wide variety of flavors, allowing you to enjoy the harmony of bananas with various ingredients, such as rum raisins, cream cheese, mango, espresso, and lychee.
(3) A Stylish Way to Eat Bananas
Like tapioca, banana juice’s popularity seems to be fueled by its trendy and stylish way of eating.
On Instagram, many people post photos of themselves holding a cup with the hashtag.
(4) The Mastermind Behind the Tapioca Climax
Features of “banana juice specialty shops” on TV shows like “Matsuko’s Unknown World” have also helped fuel the boom.
Kenta Gondo, the president of “KoiBanana,” the first banana juice specialty store in Tenjin, Fukuoka, said, “Not only is it delicious and cute, it’s also good for your health, which is why it’s so popular.” He and his friend, the owner of a banana juice specialty store in Tokyo, are determined to “create a boom similar to tapioca.”
(5) The shelf life of banana juice is 20 minutes
The reason for this is that bananas turn black over time, so 20 minutes is the limit. Therefore, unlike tapioca, bananas are consumed in stores or at stores and the container immediately thrown in the trash, eliminating the “litter problem” associated with littering on the roads.
2. The “Banana Diet” Boom
More than 10 years ago, the “banana diet” became a huge hit after being featured on a TBS television program called “Dream Press Company.” The following day, bananas were sold out in supermarkets across the country, a rare phenomenon that seems to me to be a testament to the ferocious desire of women to lose weight.
The program was a four-hour diet special featuring eight female celebrities. The super-powerful singer, Kumiko Mori, followed the “Morning Banana Diet” (eating only a banana and water every breakfast) for a month and a half. As a result, she successfully lost 7 kg. It’s unclear whether the weight loss rebounded afterward, though…
While the “banana diet” craze has died down, the public still knows that bananas are inexpensive and good for health and beauty. Perhaps it’s this underlying belief that’s driving the current boom in “banana juice specialty stores.”