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Simply put, a bento box is a lunchbox in Japan. While people in the UK may have taken a cheese sandwich and a bag of crisps for their lunch break, many Japanese families create a balanced meal in their bento box. Traditionally, these boxes would be prepared at home; however, in recent years, they are commonly found in supermarkets and restaurants, making for a more convenient lunch. Although most boxes are actually simple, bento boxes have become renowned for having imaginative designs, turning food into animals or anime characters! So what kind of bento boxes are there and what sorts of foods are usually included?
Types of Bento Boxes
There are a number of different styles of bento boxes used depending on where you are going to eat it and whether you are an adult or a child. Below are some of the most popular kinds of bento enjoyed in Japan.
A Makunouchi bento consists of two sides; one full side will contain a rice dish, while the other typically contains a selection of smaller side dishes or snacks. For the most part, the Makunouchi bento is a dish bought ready-made from a supermarket or store. Originally, this style was served up to actors and audience members in Kabuki theatres during the intermission! The Makunouchi bento typically consists of rice, an umeboshi (pickled plum), an egg roll and broiled salmon.
Koraku
Meaning ‘picnic lunchbox’ in Japanese, the Koraku is just that. The Koraku is a bigger bento box that is shared between a few friends. They are used primarily during hanami, when the cherry blossom is in full bloom. Common items in such a box include the triangular rice balls onigiri and maki-zushi rolls.
Hinomaru
This simplistic bento style can be found all over Japan, using white rice as a base, topped with a single red umeboshi (pickled plum), to make the Japanese flag. Sometimes, the meal will be just this; however, it is more often used as part of a bigger bento, with meat or fish alongside.
Otherwise known as the Japanese wive’s ‘revenge lunchbox’, the Shikaeshi box will be given to husbands by wives who are mad at them! Sometimes the rice will have a rude message, or embarrassing design, whereas others may be completely inedible. A common design is the reverse of the hinomaru, with a small blob of rice added to a base of the red umeboshi, which probably doesn’t make for a very satisfying meal!
It’s certainly not just coffee stands at Japanese train stations, with these special bento boxes being sold at most major stations and even on trains. In Japanese, ‘eki’ means train, although ekiben are now growing in popularity in a number of East Asian countries. To help with the on-the-go eating, this particular box type will come with a set of disposable chopsticks. It is common for each station to use food types popular or produced in the area.
Shidashi
The shidashi bento is primarily found in restaurants and eaten during family gatherings such as parties or funerals. Common items found in such a box include tempura, pickled vegetables and rice. Other styles of shidashi are also available; some even come packed with food in a European style!
Kyaraben
The most exciting bento box style is the kyaraben, made for children, with cute characters formed out of rice and other food types. The cute designs not only make the kids’ lunchboxes colourful and fun, but also helps to encourage them to try new foods, or eat healthier items that they may not enjoy as much.
What Food Goes in a Bento Box?
While the exact ingredients vary between box styles and personal preferences, there are some food items that pop up in most bento boxes. Like many Japanese dishes, one of the staple ingredients of a bento box tends to be rice. Often, this will be hakumai, a plain white rice, although brown rice, rice and beans and rice covered with seaweed are also popular choices. Following on from the rice is the umeboshi, or Japanese pickled plum, which is added on top of rice dishes to form the hinomaru style. Fresh vegetables will be included, with the specific kinds being determined by the season.
Many items found at sushi bars will also feature in a bento box. Nigiri and sushi rolls are often added side items in a box, as well as fried dishes, such as tempura prawns and katsu. These are sometimes replaced or accompanied by chunks of grilled fish or unagi. Slices of tamagoyaki, a sweet egg roll, are often found in boxes too. In kyarabens, if tamagoyaki is included, it is often turned into a character.
If you’re looking for some yummy extra oriental snacks to add into a bento box or lunchbox, check out the great range we have here at Oriental Mart!
Image Credit: wongkokcarrie| Instagram
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