Kyaraben

Kyaraben or charaben (キャラ弁) is a shortened form of character bento (キャラクター弁当, kyarakutā bentō).

Derived from the traditional bento box of Japan, kyaraben became a fun way to make meals for children beginning in the 1990s.

It is a style of elaborately arranged bento (Japanese boxed lunch), which features food decorated to look like animals, plants, traditions, characters from popular media, and more.

Japanese homemakers often spend time devising their families' meals,[4] including their boxed lunches.

Originally, a decorated bento was intended to interest children in their food and to encourage a wider range of eating habits.

[5] The 17th century marked the birth of the bentō in Japan when farmers began to use wooden containers to take their food to work.

[7] As time passed, Japanese bento boxes became more elaborate and were used to transport more food for other special occasions, such as when people watched plays.

Put simply, bento boxes are used for portable meals, such as lunches at work or school, as well as special occasions.

Japanese mothers use it as a means to express their creativity and culture[15] while making food fun for their children.

[17] Kyaraben is important to Japanese culture because it is a way for mothers to express their creativity and encourage their children to eat certain foods.

[19] Kyaraben is important to Japanese culture because of the diverse and artistic array of bento boxes, as well as its ability to harbor all five senses and all five different flavors, including umami.

[20] Kyaraben lunchboxes are a major plot element in Bento Monogatari, a 2010 short film by Belgian director Pieter Dirkx.

This film is about a woman interested in popular culture, who prepares bento for her husband in an attempt to mend their marriage.

[21] Kyaraben is influenced by popular culture because people decorate their bento with characters from cartoons, anime, manga, and video games.

[22] Kyaraben is gaining worldwide popularity, such as in countries like France and Italy[23], and a 2014 contest held by the government helped introduce foreigners to Japanese food.