Do you guys like Bento?
I know that bento is actually a lunch box that Japanese mothers make for their kids, but if you think carefully, that's food you make yourself, you know what exactly is inside of it and if you feel like it, you can decorate it.
Anyone who makes those Japanese lunchboxes by themselves?
And what reasons do you guys have for this? Because you're an otaku, because you like cooking? Anything else?
Here is an example of a simple but cute bento. It wasn't made by me, I found it in google.

I love bento lunches! That is whenever I have the time to make them ^^;;
You're right in saying that it's food made by ourselves and not just Moms for their kids.

I personally TRY to make bento lunches because a) I'm an otaku and that was what got me fascinated and b) I wanted to try and make the food I make look pretty for once ^0^

I've made octopus looking hotdogs and I've always wanted to make Onigiri. I just don't have supplies or money to get them ^^;;

I think bento lunches are cool! I've personally never had the time or resources to make a bento, but once I do I'd definitely make some. I love cooking and I'm pretty good with my hands, so doing small details shouldn't be too hard. I'm an otaku too, so that's probably motivating the bento love. I also read a manga about making bento once and it had all these cool recipes and instructions (I have to go look for it again!).

@70k1dok1
Wow, what's that manga? I need to read it xD

@Juichi: I also love bento and started with them.
And if you make onigiri and have no untensils for it, then I have a video for you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOyJs1U5nCQ
Here you can see how easy it is! My first onigiri was so yummy!
Now I need the right rice so that they won't fall apart after an hour. That would be sushi rice.

>>1>>2 http://dollars-bbs.org/random/res/1306339729.html

Just for future reference.

>>3
Oooh~ when you find let me know the title! ^0^

>>4
Thanks for the video! ^0^ it does look easy! I can't wait to make one now @v@

>>5
Wow, this was very informative! I should let my friends know about the term and to use it lightly (especially if they ever visit Japan)
But I guess it's all up to the person whether or not they want to use the term ^-^
As far as I've seen, people in America seem okay calling themselves Otaku. ^0^

>>6 A lot of people saying something wrong or offensive doesn't make it alright, nor does it change the meaning. It just means a lot of people are wrong and offensive, or in this case, self-degrading.
This...was explained in the article, which you seem to have read but missed the point entirely. Try reading it again with the knowledge that you do, in fact, speak english and not japanese.

On topic though,
My Japanese friend used to make these. They always looked so neat compared to my lunch, which was comprised of a tupperware box twice its size just crammed full of meat and rice. They always seemed so small in comparison though, but that might just be because it's compact.

>>4 >>6 I'll put up a link when I find the manga again. It's pretty hard for me to find again since it's not very popular and Google can only go so far when I can't remember the title or any of the characters' names =____=;; I'll keep trying though.

>>8
Awww~ I wish you luck! : )
If the manga is worth the look then do your best!! ^0^

Its a Pokemon Bento :DD
If you don't know what its supposed to be, its a Wooper xD
No, I didn't make this

I seriously wonder if regular, high school Japanese students have time in the morning to wake up early and make bento lunches for themselves. Even the really simple looking ones.

Shit, I went hungry during lunch just to get in a couple more minutes of sleep instead of making myself a sandwich. I was also too busy doing homework or studying or wasting time to make lunch the night before. I don't know how they do it...

Well I for example have to go to work every day and I come late but I still have time for bento.

@Noodles: Awesome wooper! I'm a pokemon fan xD and this wooper is awesome.

Just a FYI a bento box is not necessarily just the cute really stylized bento boxes you see online, and in anime and manga. Bento basically means lunch box in Japanese, so it could just be a lunch box full of rice and some vegetables in a non cute way. Although Japanese people think presentation is very important so they may try to keep their lunches neat. But a very ugly looking lunch in a box is still considered a bento box.

Just thought I would put it out there.

Oh and here is a site, if you like making bentos for lunch.

justbento.com

>>11 A lot of people I knew did that. It always bothered me that people don't value lunch... not that I haven't slept during lunch in highschool either.

I don't think bento is strictly restricted to Japanese people either - a lot of my korean friends have similar boxes they stuff their food in, what with the compartments and stuff. It seems to be an asian thing in general. It's as Kinri says - it doesn't have to be a cutesy thing, it's just very organized.

My mom used to make lunches for me like that. She doesn't really have a life. xD She'd make rice balls in the shape of hearts and cut the sea weed into all sorts of shapes. Looking back on it, I really miss those lunches. :<

I love looking at bento pictures, but it's really hot where I live, thus making a bento lunch useless since it would spoil real fast =w=... but when it's during the winter I'm usually a huge glutton and stuff a ton of rice with lunch meat, cheese, and sweet egg into mine XD... but I rarely make them ;_; no time!!

Too much effort but I'd love somebody to make me one of these. XD I'm too old for something so cute!! Trololol

>>15
Yeah man, Asians swag their lunches out. As for me, I'm pretty content with your typical sandwich brownbag.

Oh, I love bento boxes, mine end up really simple though because I'm either, lazy, in a rush, or I just dump leftovers into the box. ( Above picture, I did not make. Helloooo, google images.)

Anyways.. just for reference.
Cooking Cute - Has a bunch of interesting recipes, and pictures of bento they've made
Bento Box reference site
Jlist.com - Plenty of cute bento boxes you can buy, and a lot of other things for bento making needs.

Pretty sure there's better sites out there than what I linked, but those have been bookmarked for awhile now.

...these pictures are making me hungry.. \\@u@;;

>>21 Well dear, this IS the food board.

In my opinon, it needs MORE pictures.

>>22 Haha yea, and to make myself hungrier I'll post..

^Ah that picture should go to the pokefoods thread ><;;

>>24 It's a bento, it can go to this thread, and the pokefood thread. Whichever they prefer.

Bento boxes are usually made of leftovers...this was made from Chinese takeout. xD

The bear's not edible though...that's the downside. :<
Person that made the bento: http://www.aibento.net/2009/03/06/leftover-chinese-bento-323/

Also check out this white tiger bento: http://susanyuen.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/white-tigers-chinese-roast-pork-bao-bento/

It's so cute. *__*

>>25 Did you make that? That's pretty epic looking.

>>25 EPIC bento yo

Tonari no Totoro Bento!

＠１１　When I was in Japan my Host mother made all of our food. 　She gets up the earliest and makes all the food and makes a bento from leftover rice from the night before. Then she cooks the other stuff that she wants to go into it. Honestly these are really elaborate Bento's. The typical bento has an upper and lower part. one contains only rice or onigiri. The other contains other food、Such as spaghetti or sausage, egg,ect. Hardly any bento's truly look this fantastic for a school lunch.

Woah~ that looks so good.

I (thread starter) had a week of break from bento. But now I'll do it again. I gained somewhat belly fat and I think eating less calories will only help xD I also do either onigiri or rice in one part of the bento (lunch) and fruits, something sweet, cookies or sandwitches or whatever is suitable, for breakfast.
Somebody interested? There are easy ways for making your lunch. Once I've made an onigiri with mayo tuna. But it fell apart. So I had a rice dish with mayo tuna :D The taste was WOOOOOOOOOAAAAH SO FRIGGIN GOOOOOOD. And then I made a fish out of sandwitch cheese xD and sprinkled it with seasonings. Looked AND tasted awesome... *drools*

I always bring my own lunches, and I actually want to make bentos more often - way cheaper than buying food, and yummier too! mmm onigiri~

Haha cute, i also make some bentos with rolled egg and rice etc but i never have the time to decorate them except the little squids REASON: my sister is alregic to gluten so i make them in the morning before school ^_^

That's so creative, seriously, I hope someday I'm able to make bento, especially for my kids. I'd love to try it, and like you said we do know what's in it, I know everything that's in that. Making me hungry

Bentos are effin adorable its not even funny!!! >ww<

I like making them, but I only do it every now and again, and it's normally Asian inspired. It seems like Asian food lasts better through the day and still tastes good luke warm, so that's what I stick with. Plus, it fits it's origin ^^

It's so cute and cool i really wanna learn how to make somethings.

O.O I WANT THAT!!!! XD i love those little japanese lunch box thingys (apparently called Bento xP) and this one is soo cute!

i make these for my nieces everyday. I don't decorate them, though.

never had a bento. id love to havve one though

I want that it looks so good. Wow I think that met be so good 。・°°・(＞_＜)・°°・。I want that food, and that lunch box xp

I think food looks fun when its in a fun presentation and that bent o box is fun.

i usually buy it from seven eleven but when i was in 1st yeahr jr high i made them my self

Well being American people ask me all the time with is that but I make it on p

I'm american and I've always wanted one. XD But sadly, I don't have any bento making relatives.

>>3
I think the manga you're talking about is called Hatsukoi Lunch Box...maybe? Anyways I've never made a bento but maybe I will someday XD

I love making Bento. :)
It's awesomely delicious, and I feel accomplished when I make one... XD
My sister loves my onigiri.

Mwaa~ I love bento XD

I would love to have one but , I can't make it .. :(
They don't sell it at my place either .. T.T

i love bento to i have i real bento box at my house.

that looks good now im hungry lol

I have no lunch period anymore so a bento would come in handy now.

That egg looks like the Canadians from South Park....

>>55 I know right lolz

I've always liked how bento(s) look so cute and all, with the really pleasing-to-the-eye designs c:

@frevor4ever, thinking the same thing ;3
The twins

anyone have a bento without egg

>>60 How about this one? ^__^

Aaaaaw so cuuute ..
Is that ham ?

I love this! I bought one on Anime show (festival in Slovakia)
and I can't stop eating from it! It's incredibly cute :D

How do you make thii2?????

>>61 i like it how do i make it.

I love bentos!

bump

I make that bento to my girlfriend and she took to eat because he was cute... LoL

I never had a bento. ):

i love bento boxes!

I wish I had the patience to make cute decorated bento!
I did however find the cutest strawberry shaped bento box at Daiso. :3 If you have one near you I would suggest going there for the cutest bento boxes!

What does a typical Bento box have in it?

Do most have Onigiri in them?

I wish we had bento in the UK it looks so good!

√2

Had to revive this thread!! I've been inspired basically to make bento boxes <3

The egg with the eyes reminds me of a character of a funny TV show. Just can't remember where I saw it.

>>78 ansatsu kyoushitsu, the alien teacher ??

Bump

yo that's awesome

I prepare bentos almost every day for lunch, but they're really simple (usually with udon noodles and fish croquettes). Wish I had the patience and skill to make more elaborate ones (>w<)

Im a novice cook, and I kind of try to make my own lunch box everyday. Mostly cause I like cooking. The otaku thing is just a bonus

THAT LOOKS SO GOOD :D

I make these for lunch sometimes, except I normally don't wake up early enough to decorate it well :33

I like these "kawaii lunch boxes" :3
I want to do some in the future :)

Looks really delicious! :3 if only I were that good in making bento lunches.

Not all bento is decorated, a lot of times it's usually just a nice box of delicious food like rice, eggs, maybe some fish or chicken, salads, stuff like that. However, some people also really do enjoy decorating them, and can produce amazing results such as the picture.

I have not ever had Bento! I would absolutely love to try one though.they are so cute, and look like so much fun, as well as tasty! ^_^

Looks at all them bento's wishing I had one

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I always find cutesy bento to be too cute to eat, lol.