弁当bento
Quick definition:Bento is a Japanese packed meal, usually served in a compact box with rice, a main dish and small side dishes, and it appears often in anime school and family scenes.
Meaning
Bento is a single-portion packed meal in a box with compartments. A bento often contains rice, a protein such as fish, egg or chicken, vegetables and pickles, arranged neatly so that it looks appealing. Bento are made at home, bought in shops or at train stations, and carried to school, work or outings.
Homemade bento are often a sign of care, and parents may spend time arranging foods into shapes, such as animals or characters. This decorated style, called kyaraben, has become popular with fans of anime. Bento boxes are also available as merchandise, with designs showing favourite characters.
In anime, bento scenes show friendship and affection, such as classmates sharing lunch on the roof or a character making a meal for someone they like. A badly made bento can be a joke, while a perfect one shows skill, and fans enjoy comparing real versions with those drawn on screen.
Origin:Bento is a Japanese word written with characters whose exact origin is uncertain, though it is often linked to a word meaning convenient. Packed meals have a long history in Japan, and the word became common in the Edo period. English-speaking fans know it largely through anime and manga, and the word is now used worldwide. Example:At lunchtime on a school roof, a student opens a box packed with rice shaped like a panda face, a fried egg and neat rows of vegetables, then shares one piece with a friend. The detail of the bento shows both skill and affection. Her friend asks who made it, and she admits with a blush that she packed it herself that morning.
Did you know?Ekiben, bento sold at railway stations, are a popular part of train travel in Japan, and many stations sell versions based on the local speciality. Some come in special boxes that travellers keep as souvenirs, and some people choose a train journey partly for the meal.
