Japanese Lunch Box: Bento

Bento is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more pickled or cooked vegetables as a side dish. 

Bentos are easily available in many places throughout Japan, including convenience stores, bento shops, train stations, and department stores. However, it is still considered an essential skill of a Japanese housewife to prepare an appealing lunch box.

Bento can be very elaborately arranged. Often contests are held where people compete for the most aesthetically pleasing arrangements. The food is often decorated to look like people, animals, or characters and items such as flowers and plants.

Here are pictures from a bento shop:

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