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Bento boxes are typically lunch boxes designed to serve a meal for one person. In Japanese, they are written as 弁当 and pronounced “obento.” Today, the concept has become popular in households worldwide. Unlike standard lunch boxes, bento boxes offer a perfect combination of varied textures, tastes, and ingredients.
An average Japanese meal packed into a bento box comprises rice, fish, meat, and pickled vegetables. The Japanese homemaker uses every inch of space provided in the box to prepare and pack wholesome and nutritious meals for her family members.
The following are the most common types of bento boxes available in Japan and around the world. Included is a translation of each Bento Box Type from Japanese to English.
Shokado bento boxes have an have an age-old tradition in Japanese cuisine. Simple yet elegant lacquered lunch boxes, used for serving a variety of refined small dishes in one meal. Divided into four uniform sections like the Chinese character "field" 田.
Shidashi Bento Box – Japanese Catered Bento (仕出し弁当) – Shidashi is a term used to describe bento served by professional caterers. These box meals are ordered for important guests or special occasions. Shidashi bento is filled with a colourful array of arranged side dishes including rice, tempura, pickled vegetables and protein. ...
The year has just passed the halfway mark and we have been working hard at adding new products to our collection though 2021 is just getting warmed up. Later this year we expect to be introducing a new range of Mokusei Bento Boxes which have been under production since before Covid started. The new range will include the
Kamameshi Bento has caught up with the rest of us and today you have several kinds of bento boxes catering to the varied tastes and needs. You have bento's being sold at airports, railway stations, onboard trains as well as specific convenience and department stores. Specific boxed meals...
Curious to know how a Japanese wife’s anger is expressed while preparing lunch for her husband? "Uncooked rice, an uncooked egg or a broken heart cut from Nori and one chopstick”, OUCH! Shikaeshi bento is the Japanese wives revenge bento prepared after an argument and it's not the lunch you hope to try. Couples can’t always exp...
In Japan, there is a specific term for Yochien obento (お弁当, o-ben·to), and depending on who you ask you will always get a different answer on what Yochien obento means. Japanese obento lunch boxes have many variations. In this article, we discuss Yochien Obento Lunch Box "Kindergarden Bento" with a cultural order and meaning; it ...
Makunouchi Bento (makuno-uchi bent) is a Japanese term that translates as Between-Act Bento. As one might expect, they have something to do with theatre performances, having been served during Noh and Jabuki "behind the curtain" theatre acts during the Edo era (1603-1867). You were served a wonderful two-section lunch to keep you...
Dosirak Lunch Boxes are a popular Korean lunch box packed with a homemade meal that can also be purchased from Dosirak stores. Like Japanese bento lunch boxes, they are served with rice and an assortment of traditional side dishes. Dosirak
Colourful Hanami Bento is a tiered lunch box that is an ideal component for serving meals while contemplating the beauty of cherry blossom trees in Japan. Hanami Bento (flower viewing bento) is centuries old, dating back to the Nara period (710 to 794), Hanami is the traditional Japanese custom of appreciating the beauty of cherr...
Used in Japan during the Heian period (794-1185), Jubako Bento (重箱) means "Layered Bento Boxes". Similar to traditional bento boxes they are a combination of elaborately decorated lacquered boxes used for holding and presenting food on outings or special occasions. The upper-classes traditionally used
An offshoot, the shikaeshi bento box, the Aisai Bento or “bento made by loving wife” is what it is. Bento box made with love from a wife towards her husband in the form of a delicious, nutritious, visually appealing lunch box. Perhaps one of the greatest ways to say “I...
Most of us are familiar with the bento box concept; the Japanese origin home-packed or pre-made store-bought meal. However, very few will be aware of what a Kyaraben bento is. A little unusual, fun, cute and artistic; are some of the terms that would best describe a Kyaraben bento! Kyaraben ...
We are extremely excited to announce that the highly anticipated and exclusive to Katachiware the Limited Edition Kizoku Bento Boxes & Genji Motif is finally in production and due to land at the end of July 2021. The new bento box is made from a BPA Free, food-grade AB...
In the Edo period (1603 to 1867), the culture of the bento box grew in popularity and became more refined. Travelers and sightseers would carry a simple Koshin Bento "koshibentō", which is a type of bento box, worn around the wait consisting several onigiri wrapped with bamboo leaves or in a woven bamboo box. ...
Hinomaru Bento | The term, Hinomaru, means ‘circle of the sun’ in Japanese and stands for the Japanese flag. Hinomaru bento is a traditional bento box with steamed rice with a pickled umeboshi in the centre as its food contents. The red umeboshi or plum resembl...
Ekibentō or ekiben translates to station bento, Eki meaning train and Ben is short for Bento. First sold in during the Meiji period (1885), at the Utsunomiya Train Station in Japan's northern Kantō region. The meal consisted of two freshly made onigiri balls, a few slices of pickled daikon radish wrapped in a sheet of bamboo bark...
Oekakiben or "picture bento" is a type of bento box that is prepared by the mother for her child in a manner that the ingredients are decorated to resemble a picture or a scene. Often depicting objects such as animals, favourite pets, famous people, buildings, monuments, scenes from a favourite movie or specific items such as flo...
Exploring these bento box types reveals the rich tapestry of Japanese culinary tradition. Each bento box tells a story of flavor, artistry, and culture, offering a delightful and nutritious meal. Whether you’re a bento enthusiast or a curious foodie, there’s always more to discover and enjoy. Bento boxes are not just about food; they represent a harmonious balance of taste, nutrition, and aesthetics, reflecting the care and thought put into every meal. So, the next time you prepare or enjoy a bento, remember that you are partaking in a tradition that values balance, creativity, and mindfulness.
