Bento
| Synonyms: | |
| See also: | Fannish Cooking |
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A bento is a Japanese homemade or take-out meal that is served cold in multicompartment boxes. These boxes are sometimes referred to as bento boxes. They can easily be transported to school, workplace etc. where the meal usually serves as lunch.
Characters eating and sharing their bento is a trope not uncommon in anime and manga media.[1][2]
Many fans in and outside Japan use their bento as a platform for showing off their fannish interests. This style is called Kyaraben (character bento).[3]
The preparing and documenting of bento might be described as a fandom in its own right. Rice is a traditional ingredient and Onigiri (rice balls)[4] are often shaped into popular characters, animals or plants. Other ingredients might be treated in the same way.
Some fans enjoy making art for themed bento boxes without actually preparing the meal.
Gallery
a Pokémon themed bento by Scorchie-Critter (April 21, 2008)
a Hello Kitty themed bento by KandiKawaii (August 18, 2008)
an Animal Crossing themed bento by Arekkusa (August 30, 2008)
a bento with panda origini by Cephis (August 31, 2013)
Fannish Resources
- Special post with all the Bento Boxes in One Piece, up to Whole Cake Island!, Archived version by all-blue-recipes on tumblr (One Piece, November 5, 2023)
Archives
- Bento works on the Ao3
- Bento Box works on the Ao3
- Bento Box search on DeviantArt
- Wikipedia:Bento