Earlier today in Tokyo, limited edition bananas went on sale. They even had serial numbers. Yes, serial numbers. On bananas.
As reported by Entabe, NariNari and on Excite News, Dole released the premium bananas at Takashimaya Department Store in Shinjuku this morning. The bananas were priced at 590 yen ($5.80) each, packaged in a special box, and sported a serial number on the skin. Only 59 went on sale, and they were offered today only.
What's with the number 59? The name of these bananas is "Gokusen" (極撰), with the character for "goku" (極) referring to "extreme" or "culmination," and the character for "sen" (撰) referring to "compilation." Since today is May 9 (5/9), the event is a Japanese pun: the number five is "go" (五), while the number nine is "ku" (九). Geddit?
Launching in 2009, the Gokusen banana has been on sale for a while now. It is Dole Japan's most delicious and fragrant banana. They were developed by researching and singling out the best features of over a hundred other bananas. As Marusho-Iizuka notes, the bananas are cultivated in the Philippines at over 500 meters above sea level.
These limited edition Gokusen bananas that went on sale today are the best of the best, measuring and weighing in at 200 grams. Typical bananas weigh in at around 100 grams and don't cost six bucks each.
Gokusen [Dole Japan]
シリアルナンバー印字のバナナ、ドールが1本590円の「極撰」限定販売。[NariNari]
1本590円、ドールの超高級バナナを手に入れろ！ 新宿高島屋で限定販売 [Entabe]
1本590円もする超高級バナナ「極撰 プレミアムバナナ」を食べてみた [Excite]
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