Bento

A bento box contains protein, fresh or pickled vegetables and rice, sometimes in the form of rice balls (onigiri). It is a meal for workers, school students and travellers. Each major train station has its own eki bento, or ekiben. The bento also follows the rhythms of nature with the kouraku bento, the “picnic bento”. A hanami bento is eaten while contemplating the beauty of blossoming cherry trees. The traditional Japanese kabuki theatre also has its own bento, the makuno uchi bento, enjoyed during intermissions.