Historical Background and Cultural Characteristics of Japanese Bento

It is said that the Japanese bento lunch box was born as a snack to be eaten while working or traveling, and its form has changed with the changing times.

This is influenced by the Japanese culture of homemade food and the playful and considerate attitude toward others to enjoy everyday meals.

This article explains how Japanese bento took its current form and why it is appreciated overseas, focusing on the historical background and cultural characteristics that gave birth to bento.

We will also introduce the types of bento that foreigners are surprised by and points to keep in mind when serving bento to foreigners at meetings, etc. Please use this as a reference when entertaining foreigners.

Historical Background of the Birth of Japanese Bento

Bento lunches can be enjoyed by both children and adults in their daily lives.

BENTO” is also popular overseas as a form of Japanese culture.

Let us first introduce the historical background of the bento boxes in which they were born.

It began around the 5th century with snacking

There are various theories as to when the Japanese bento was born, but according to “Nihon shoki” (Chronicles of Japan), Japan’s oldest history book, the prototype of the bento already existed around the 5th century.

At that time, it was not customary to eat lunch, and it was eaten as a simple snack for the purpose of filling small stomachs while traveling or working.

In the Warring States Period, however, rice cakes and dried plums were introduced for their nutritional and antiseptic effects, as well as for their longevity.

Bento” took root during the Edo and Meiji periods.

In the Edo period (1603-1867), after the end of the warring states, the number of people who made their living in construction and commerce increased and towns began to prosper in a peaceful world.
The culture of eating lunch became widespread, especially among carpenters, farmers, and others whose work required physical exertion.
At the same time, the number of common people who went out for pleasure or to the theater increased, leading to the development of elaborate gourmet lunch boxes and makunouchi bento (boxed lunches served in a boxed lunch box).

In the Meiji era (1868-1912), the compulsory education system was introduced, and the custom of bringing a packed lunch to school took root.
Against this backdrop, the bento box lunch became a popular daily meal, rather than a simple snack.

Cultural Characteristics of Bento in Modern Times

Throughout its long history, the Japanese bento has changed to suit the times.

Foreign visitors express their amazement, saying “wow” and “it’s so unique.

The following cultural characteristics have greatly influenced the modern form of the Japanese bento.

• Handmade Culture
• one soup, three meals a day
• Dedicated lunch box and decorations
• Frozen and processed foods for lunchboxes

Let me explain each of them.

Handmade Culture

In other countries, it is customary to eat out or use take-out on a daily basis.

On the other hand, most people in Japan tend to make their own handmade products and consider it “normal.

According to a survey by the Cabinet Office, the self-catering rate among Japanese households is over 90%, even including one-person households.

Many Japanese are “mottainai” oriented and thrifty, and cooking for themselves with ingredients they already have rather than eating out, which is expensive, is thought to be one of the reasons for the development of the homemade culture.

In addition, since cooking for oneself allows the food to reflect the physical condition and preferences of the recipient, homemade bento is considered an “expression of love,” and this is probably one of the reasons why the culture of homemade bento has become mainstream.

Because of these differences in assumptions, foreign reactions to Japan’s elaborate homemade bento boxes have been full of surprise and excitement.

Reference: Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, Results of the Survey on Attitudes toward the Living Conditions of the Elderly According to Household Type (Overall version)

(a) culture of one soup, three dishes

In Japan, “one soup and three vegetables” has long been cited as the ideal form of a meal.

In addition to rice as the staple food, this meal consists of one soup (ippiru = miso soup or other soup) and three side dishes (san-nai = main dish and three side dishes).

The concept of “one soup, three greens,” which not only provides nutritional balance and richness of color, but also the pleasure of eating a variety of side dishes, is also used in bento lunches.

For example, if meat or fish is used as the main dish, vegetables should play the main role in side dishes using different ingredients and cooking methods.

The side dishes in the small bento boxes are based on the “one soup, three greens” concept, and are designed to be enjoyed even when on the go, with careful attention to nutritional balance.

Dedicated lunch box and decorations

Overseas, it is not uncommon to use Tupperware or paper bags as containers for bento boxes in daily life.

Japanese bento, however, is packed in a special “bento box.

Bento boxes come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes, and when combined with cups to hold side dishes, they are very colorful and pleasing to the eye.

This is due to the fact that Japanese people are attached to their containers and utensils, and have long regarded food containers as a part of their decoration.

It can be said that it is only in Japan, with its gentry culture, that each person has his or her own lunch box, such as “this is my father’s lunch box, this is my sister’s…”.

In Japan, the bento box is also an indispensable and important item for the presentation of an important lunch.

Frozen and processed foods for lunchboxes

Japan has a culture of packing a variety of side dishes in bento boxes on a daily basis.

Because Japan is such a country, one product that has developed is frozen and processed foods for boxed lunches.

While Japanese bentos play an active role in special events, many of them are made and eaten in everyday life.

One of the things that support such daily bento making is frozen and processed foods.

Overseas, frozen foods are often sold in large bags or large quantities for meals at home, but in Japan, a wide variety of side dishes are also sold in sizes and shapes specially designed for bento lunches.

Many of them, such as gratins and fried foods, are time-consuming to make daily and in small quantities, and some of them are frozen foods that do not require heating and can be defrosted naturally.

Similarly, processed foods such as fish cakes and sausages are also available with colorful or character designs to easily decorate bento boxes.

By Country! Bento situation in each country

We have introduced the historical background and cultural characteristics that gave birth to the Japanese bento, but what kind of bento is eaten in other countries?

The following is a country-by-country introduction to the bento situation in each country.

America

In the U.S., schools usually offer a choice between a school lunch and a boxed lunch, although this varies from region to region.

However, the lunch period in American schools is set shorter than in Japan, at about ten minutes.

For this reason, quick sandwiches, fruit and bread, and crackers are popular.

The main advantage of these lunches is that they do not require cooking or only cutting, which saves time and effort for the creator.

Until recently, American lunch boxes were mostly paper bags or simple Tupperware.

Recently, however, trays with lids with dividers, called “BENTO BOX,” have become popular due to the popularity of Japanese “BENTO.

China

China has cafeterias from kindergarten to university, and from an early age, people are not familiar with packed lunches.

And in China, there is no custom of eating meals cold, nor is it considered “cold rice is bad for the stomach”.

Such customs have also helped to make eating out, takeout and delivery of freshly prepared food the norm.

Most workplaces are equipped with microwave ovens so that people can eat hot meals, even if they bring their own lunch.

Most bento boxes are also made of glass that can be heated or kept warm, and recently, bento boxes with an electric heating wire warming function have been introduced.

Compared to Japan, there is a strong preference for hot meals.

Korea

Even in Korea, it is not customary to make homemade lunch boxes on a daily basis, and the occasion for such lunches is limited to special occasions such as children’s picnics and events.

Even if they do make their own lunch, it may be only kimbap (Korean seaweed rolls) or yubchobap (Korean inarizushi).

Although it may seem simple compared to Japanese bento, Korea has a culture of sharing meals brought from work or school, including prepared foods that have been bought.

Therefore, even though the number of items made is small, the end result tends to be a varied meal.

France

French schools are basically school lunch style, but occasional lunches are also usually a la carte dishes such as pasta, sandwiches, and salads.

France, too, does not have the custom of eating hot meals cold by nature, so the contents of the bento boxes tend to be “non-warm” dishes from the start.

Since there are no special containers for bento boxes, Tupperware and the like are common, and cut fruits and other items are sometimes stored directly in zipper bags or empty jam jars.

In recent years, however, Japanese “bento” culture has spread, and the number of Japanese bento stores and stores selling bento boxes is increasing in France.

Taiwan

Taiwan has a well-developed restaurant culture, and often everything from breakfast to dinner is eaten out, with self-catering itself being in the minority.

It is not uncommon to find houses without kitchens.

For this reason, the majority of people in Taiwan, including students, eat at restaurants or purchase boxed lunches from bento shops.

For Taiwanese people, too, “meals are supposed to be hot,” so boxed lunches are also sold hot.

Some schools have warming cabinets so that lunches bought in the morning can be eaten hot.

Taiwan also has ekiben (boxed lunches), which are similar to those in Japan in that they are filled with a variety of ingredients, but the containers are usually simple so that they do not get in the way during the trip.

Only in Japan? Types of Bento Lunchboxes Pleased by Foreigners

There are many different types of bent o in Japan, and we will introduce some of the most distinctive types of bento that surprise and delight foreigners.

homemade bento containing food decorated to look like cute characters (from anime, etc.)

As a unique Japanese bento, “kyaraben” has attracted particular attention from overseas.

For kyaraben, favorite anime characters or mascots are depicted in a variety of ways, such as cutting side dishes and decorating them.

When it first became popular in Japan, it began as a playful attempt by its creators to please children.

However, nowadays, it is enjoyed by people of all ages as a way to motivate themselves or to express their love for their favorite idols or characters.

Some of them are so artistic that it is a shame to eat them.

Of course, even in other countries, people sometimes decorate meals during events.

Even so, the fact that so many ordinary people are making bentos of such high quality for everyday use makes them “uniquely Japanese.

boxed lunch bought at a restaurant that serves heated food

Heated bento lunches are another uniquely Japanese evolution.

Heated lunchboxes are also popular in China, but they are basically home-use lunchboxes and are generally heated by electric heating wires.

On the other hand, Japanese heated bento boxes are “disposable bento boxes” that can be purchased at caterers and bento shops.

Just pull the string to instantly heat up your bento, and its ease, convenience, and interesting mechanism have made it popular even among people from overseas.

The mechanism is based on a chemical reaction between quicklime and water, and the advantage is that it can be disposed of as-is after use.

Heated bento boxes will allow people from overseas who do not like cold meals to enjoy a delicious hot meal on the go.

boxed lunch bought at a station (often a local specialty)

In Japan, ekiben also have unique characteristics.

Ekiben, which allow you to enjoy the specialties of the region you are visiting in a single boxed lunch, are attractive because of their special “only available there” flavor.

Ekiben are sold in other countries as well, but they all use simple disposable containers and packaging.

In Japan, on the other hand, the bento boxes themselves are decorated with specialties or limited edition illustrations of popular characters.

Some people are so fascinated by the distinctive vessels that they collect ekiben bento boxes.

Ekiben in Japan are not only a pleasure at the moment of eating, but also play a role as a memento.

What to Consider When Serving Lunch at a Meeting with Foreigners

As you can see, the bento situation in Japan differs greatly from that in other countries, but it is important to be careful in business situations.

In Japan, it is customary to prepare boxed lunches for participants in seminars, training sessions, and conferences to show appreciation and hospitality.

When serving this so-called “conference bento,” the following points should be noted.

• Since we are here, we will entertain you with a Japanese bento box.
• Note that many people do not like cold white rice or stewed rice
• If you have a large group, be considerate of the minority.

Each of these will be explained.

Since we are here, we will entertain you with a Japanese bento box.

When serving bento to people from overseas, it is easy to think, “Wouldn’t it be better to serve food from a country with which the recipient is familiar?” However, if that is the case, let’s entertain them with a Japanese bento.

Many overseas visitors are interested in Japanese food and bento culture and desire Japanese food.

Even though it is a conference or seminar, it is still lunch time.

By treating them to a Japanese bento box, you can use it as an opportunity to have a casual talk with them about the topic.

Note that many people do not like cold white rice or stewed rice

Many people from overseas do not like cold white rice or stewed rice.

In many countries, it is not customary to eat cold food in the first place, and the hurdle is even higher when it is a dish from another country with which one is unfamiliar.

Similarly, many people “can’t eat” tsukudani, pickled plums, and other pickles, so it is important to be careful.

Consult with caterers and caterers in advance, or provide hot bentos such as heated box lunches.

Depending on the food culture of the recipient, it may also be a good idea to provide a buffet-style meal.

If you have a large group, be considerate of the minority.

When it comes to large group meetings and seminars, there is a possibility that people from different cultures and ideas will attend together.

It is important to be aware of minority groups such as vegetarians, allergies, and those whose diets are restricted by religious rules.

If possible, check the dietary restrictions of participants in advance to ensure that minorities will be treated with respect.

If you cannot check in advance, you can also prepare a certain number of halal-compliant or allergy-compliant lunches.

Since both of these are important issues concerning the health, culture, and values of the other party, the utmost care should be taken.

Let’s enjoy Japanese bento!

The Japanese bento has evolved in its own unique way, incorporating history and culture.

The uniqueness of this product is imbued with Japanese handmade culture and the creator’s playful spirit to enjoy everyday life, as well as the desire to show hospitality, gratitude, and appreciation to the recipient.

The Japanese bento, a condensed version of the history, culture, and consideration for others, will surely continue to attract and develop people around the world.