Japanese Food Culture 13 Bento

Bento is a portable food consisting of rice and side dishes packed in a box-like container to be eaten on the go.

In terms of portable food, the history of bento seems to be very old, as the oldest "onigiri" in Japan was discovered at an archaeological site in Ishikawa Prefecture during the Yayoi Period (2300-1700 years ago).

Bento has different names depending on the TPO.

All of them are collectively called "bento.

Bento in daily life that you make at home and take to school or work.→Bento.

Bento that you buy at a convenience store: Convenience store bento→Convini-bento.

Bento bought at train stations when traveling or on business trips and eaten on the Shinkansen or train: eki-ben.

Luxurious bento served at meetings, weddings, funerals, etc. → Catering bento = shidashi bento.