Bento facts for kids

A Bento prepared for Hanami.

A bento (pronounced ben-toh) is a special packed meal from Japan. It's made to be carried and eaten somewhere else, like at school, work, or on a picnic. A traditional bento usually has rice, some fish or meat, and one or more vegetables. These vegetables might be pickled or cooked.

Bento meals come in many different containers. Some are simple and disposable. Others are fancy, handmade boxes, often made from lacquer. You can buy bento meals in many stores and special bento shops all over Japan. But it's also a very important skill for a Japanese housewife to make a good packed lunch at home.

Bento can be very artistic and beautiful. People often arrange the food to look like fun things. This could be dolls, flowers, or leaves. For special events like Hanami (flower viewing), people prepare bigger and more detailed bentos. They are perfect for a picnic with friends and family.

Different Kinds of Bento

There are many types of bento, each with its own special features.

Bento for Travel

You can often find bento boxes sold at train stations. These are called ekiben (pronounced eh-kee-ben). They are perfect for eating on a long train ride. Bento are also sold at airports. These are known as soraben (pronounced soh-rah-ben). They are great for your flight!

Character Bento (Kyaraben)

Kyaraben (pronounced kyah-rah-ben) is a fun type of bento. The name comes from "character bento." In kyaraben, the food is shaped and decorated to look like popular characters. These can be from cartoons, video games, or animals. It makes lunchtime extra exciting!

What's Inside a Bento?

Bento boxes can hold many different yummy foods. Here are some popular items you might find:

• Tamagoyaki: This is a sweet or savory Japanese-style omelette.
• Karaage: Delicious deep-fried chicken pieces.
• Onigiri: These are tasty rice balls, often shaped into triangles or circles.
• Takosan Viennese: Small sausages that are cut to look like octopuses.
• Shogayaki: Slices of pork cooked with ginger and soy sauce.
• Sandwich: Sometimes, a simple sandwich is included.
• Fruit: Fresh fruit is a common healthy addition.

Images for kids

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  A typical bento bought from a grocery store

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  Hanami bento in the Edo period

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  Aluminum bento box, 1961. Lid fits closely. Small compartment for condiments.

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  Hinomaru bento (just one umeboshi in the center)

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  Makunouchi bento

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  Shōkadō bentō

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  An oekakiben containing rice balls decorated to resemble pandas

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  Two typical home made bento (one open, one wrapped); note the furoshiki cloths

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  Bento served at a restaurant in Japan

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  ]]Tōge no kamameshi bento

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  Orizume bentō (1)

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  Orizume bentō (2)

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  Okowa bento-styled meal served in a restaurant. Steamed glutinous rice with teriyaki chicken and cabbage

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  A set of stacking boxes for bento called jūbako

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  Sagejū, a historical picnic container set of jūbako

See also

In Spanish: Bentō para niños