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So I was reading in FMA recently and noticed that the Führer President King
Bradley brings a melon with him when he comes and sees Edward in the hospital.
I have noticed this in several other animes and mangas and was wondering what
the origin of the trope is.


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2014-01-15T00:43:58.897
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2014-01-15T01:02:54.827
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Why is it that everyone brings melons when they are visiting a character in the hospital?


The origin of this is actually in real life.

In Japan, melons are considered to be a rather expensive fruit, and after
often given as gifts, specifically when visiting someone in a hospital. I'm
not really sure _how_ this particular notion was started, just that it is a
common thing nowadays.

![Bradley delivering his melon](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1fSldm.jpg)

In fact, here is a 21,000-yen (~$210) melon:

[![Dang expensive
melon!](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4Nw5rm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4Nw5r.jpg)

It would seem that the anime and manga that feature this idea are simply
drawing from this part of Japanese culture.


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