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Three-quart, one-quart (antique), and half-pint (souvenir) beanpots Bento served at a restaurant  





The origin of bento can be traced back to the late Kamakura Period (1185 to 1333), when cooked and dried rice called hoshi-ii (糒 or 干し飯, literally "dried meal") was developed. Hoshi-ii can be eaten as is or boiled with water to make cooked rice, and is stored in a small bag. 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. A typical 1,000 yen ekiben, purchased at Tokyo Station A typical 1,000 yen ekiben, purchased at Tokyo Station  
In the peaceful and prosperous Edo Period (1603 to 1867), bento culture spread and became more refined. Travelers and sightseers would carry a simple koshibentō (腰弁当, "waist bento"), consisting of several onigiri wrapped with bamboo leaves or in a woven bamboo box. One of the most popular styles of bento, called makuno-uchi bentō ("between-act bento"), was first made during this period. People who came to see Noh and Kabuki ate specially prepared bento between maku A typical 1,000 yen ekiben, purchased at Tokyo Station Bento purchased on the Shinkansen train from Tokyo to Kyoto, in a Daruma box  


In the Meiji Period (1868 to 1912), the first ekibentō or ekiben (駅弁当 or 駅弁, "train station bento") was sold. There are several records that claim where ekiben was first sold, but it is believed that it was sold on 16 July 1885, at the Utsunomiya train station, and contained two onigiri and a serving of takuan wrapped in bamboo leaves. 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.


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. However, 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. The bento, made at home, is wrapped in a furoshiki cloth, which acts as both bag and table mat.

Bento is also popular in Taiwan. Bendong (Taiwanese: piān-tong) or Biendang (便當, "convenience pack") made its way to Taiwan in the first half of the 20th century from Japan, where it remains very popular to the present day. The term is a loan word from the Japanese word in Taiwanese Hokkien and Taiwanese Mandarin.

Airports also offer an analogous version of the ekiben: bento filled with local cuisine, to be eaten while waiting for an airplane or during the flight.

Types of bento

  • Shōkadō bentō
  • Hinomaru style rice in a Makunouchi bentoShōkadō bentō (松花堂弁当) is a traditional black-lacquered Japanese bento box. It inspired IBM's (later sold to Lenovo) ThinkPad design.
  • Chūka bentō (中華弁当) are filled with Chinese food. While Chinese do have cold plates, it is more for appetizers or midnight "snack". The food that is associated with chuka bento was invented in Japan.
Shōkadō bentō Shōkadō bentō  
  • Kamameshi bentō (釜飯弁当) are sold at train stations in the Nagano prefecture. It is cooked and served in a clay pot. The pot is a souvenir item.
  • Sake bentō (鮭弁当) is a simple bento with a slice of broiled salmon (鮭, sake) as the main dish.
  • Sushizume (鮨詰め) literally means "packed sushi", and is a bento filled with sushi.
Shōkadō bentō Two typical home made Bentos (one open, one wrapped) - note the furoshiki cloths  


  • Hokaben (ホカ弁) is any kind of bento bought at a take-out bento shops. Freshly cooked hot (hokka hoka) rice is usually served with freshly prepared side dishes. The name was popularized after a pioneering take-out bento franchise in the field, Hokka Hokka Tei.
  • Dokaben (ドカベン) is a baseball manga of which the title came from the protagonist, Taro Yamada's huge bento box (dokaben).
  • Ekiben is a bento sold at railway stations (eki). There are many kinds of ekiben. Most are inexpensive and filling.




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