What is Japanese BENTO?
弁当/べんとう[Bento] is a takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine.
A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more pickled or cooked vegetables, usually in a box-shaped container.
Tsukemono(Pickled vegetables).
Containers range from disposable mass produced to hand crafted lacquerware.
Moreover, Bento can be very elaborately arranged in a style called キャラ弁[kyara-ben].
Various enterprises in Japan sponsor the Bento contest.
The origin of bento can be traced back to the late Kamakura Period (1185 to 1333), when cooked and dried rice called hoshi-ii was developed.
糒[Hoshi-ii] can be eaten as is or boiled with water to make cooked rice, and is stored in a small bag.
In the Edo Period (1603 to 1867), bento culture spread and became more refined. Travelers and sightseers would carry a simple 腰弁当[koshibento], consisting of several onigiri wrapped with bamboo leaves or in a woven bamboo box. People who came to see 能[Noh] and 歌舞伎[Kabuki] ate specially prepared bento between maku (acts).
Makunouchi Bento Numerous cookbooks were published detailing how to cook, how to pack, and what to prepare for occasions like 花見[Hanami].
In the Meiji Period (1868 to 1912), the first 駅弁[ekiben] was sold.
And. as early schools did not provide lunch, students and teachers carried bento, as did many employees. A "European" style bento with sandwiches also went on sale during this period.
In the Taisho- period (1912 to 1926), the aluminum bento box became a luxury item because of its ease of cleaning and its silver-like appearance. Also, a move to abolish the practice of bento in school became a social issue.
Disparities in wealth spread during this period, following an export boom during World War I and subsequent crop failures in the Tohoku region.
A bento too often reflected a student's wealth, and many wondered if this had an unfavorable influence on children both physically, from lack of adequate diet, and psychologically, from a clumsily made bento or the richness of food. It is called 学校給食[Gakkou-Kyuushoku]. Bento regained its popularity in the 1980s, with the help of the microwave oven and the proliferation of convenience stores. In addition, the expensive wood and metal boxes have been replaced at most bento shops with inexpensive, disposable polystyrene boxes. But, even handmade bento have made a comeback, and they are once again a common, although not universal, sight at Japanese schools. Bento are still used by workers as a packed lunch, by families on day trips, for school picnics and sports days etc. I will show you my Bento from next time. Hararie 
Although bento are readily available in many places throughout Japan, including convenience stores, bento shops, train stations, and department stores, it is still common for Japanese homemakers to spend time and energy for their spouse, child, or themselves producing a carefully prepared lunch box.
Bento contests is often held where bento arrangers compete for the most aesthetically pleasing arrangements.
Kyaraben is typically decorated to look like people, animals, or characters and items such as flowers and plants.
And, money and the prize are presented to the prize winner.
Japanese Bento history
Bento box in Japan where lacquer was painted
In the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1568 to 1600), wooden lacquered boxes like today's were produced and bento would be eaten during a hanami or a tea party.
Makunouchi-Bento
in Edo period
One of the most popular styles of bento, called 幕の内弁当[makuno-uchi bento]- ("between-act bento"), was first made during this period.
Japanese Ekiben
Hinomaru-Bento:
Box lunch of child at poor home.
Poor Bento only of meal and Umeboshi
It looks like the national flag of Japan ( It is called "Hinomaru").
After World War II, the practice of bringing bento to school gradually declined and was replaced by uniform food provided for all students and teachers.
And, Gakkou-Kyuushoku is continued in present Japan.
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