Japanese Lunch Boxes, Bento

In Japan, a packed meal is called obento. Bento boxes (Japanese lunch boxes) have internal dividers and stacked layers. The food that is packed into the bento box is healthy and tasty, but also of great importance is that it be packed attractively. Japan has always placed great emphasis on food presentation, and packing lunches is no exception.

The approach to bento box preparation is artistic. Bento boxes are intended to be aesthetically pleasing and to make the food enticing. Sometimes the presentation is intentionally fun, or adheres to the Japanese culinary rule that all meals should contain five colors, or is kyaraben (character based).