<p>The origin of this is actually in real life.</p>

<p>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 <em>how</em> this particular notion was started, just that it is a common thing nowadays.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/1fSldm.jpg" alt="Bradley delivering his melon"></p>

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

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/4Nw5r.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/4Nw5rm.jpg" alt="Dang expensive melon!"></a></p>

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

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-15T01:02:54.827Z
2014-01-15T01:02:54.827Z
Cattua
<p>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.</p>

<tropes>
Why is it that everyone brings melons when they are visiting a character in the hospital?
# Why is it that everyone brings melons when they are visiting a character in the hospital?
Posted by: username_0 on 2014-01-15
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.
**Tags:** tropes
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## 1 answers
### Answer by username_1 on 2014-01-15. Score: 7 | Accepted answer
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.sstatic.net/1fSldm.jpg)

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

[![Dang expensive melon!](https://i.sstatic.net/4Nw5rm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/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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