Hungry? Try eating Charaben!

This is now the latest trend, the Kyaraben or also known as Charaben is a very cute way of preparing your food and turning your food into a masterpiece. This is a form of character bento. Such style is elaborately arranged pieces which would feature different types of food decorated to look like your most favorite anime character. Japanese homemakers often spend time devising their families’ meals, including their boxed lunches which has been part of their culture and tradition. The original plan was to decorate a bento which prime intention was to interest children in their food eating habots and to encourage a wider range of eating habits and increasing appretite. Now it has now evolved to the point where national contests are held. Makunouchi consists of fish, meat, pickles, eggs and vegetables along with rice. Some other kinds incllude chestnut-rice, sweetfish sushi and meat-and-rice-casserole forms.Makunouchi has become a common convention for bentos sold at train stations. Convenience stores usually also sell a bento under the Makunouchi name. Bento on the other had, is single-portion home-packed meal or take out meal common in Japanese cuisine. The traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, cooked vegetables, usually in a box-shaped container. Bento can be very elaborately be considered as “character bento”. Kyaraben is typically decorated to look like popular Japanese cartoon anime characters, characters from comic books and manga even video game characters. There is also the very popular bento style is known as the oekakiben or picture bento, which is decorated to look like people, animals, buildings and monuments, or items such as flowers and plants. Contests are often held where bento arrangers compete for the most aesthetically pleasing arrangements. Bento basically means conviniet or convenience. The Ekiben is a specific type of bento boxed meals, sold on trains Today, many types of ekiben can still be purchased; at stands in the station, on the platform, or on the train itself. They come with disposable chopsticks or spoons. Ekiben containers can be made from plastic, wood, or ceramic.
In the culinary way of preparing food, the presentation is as important as preparation. In Japanese culture, it’s all about presentation when making such character lunches. It is called “Kyaraben”, or “Charaben”. This goes beyond simply making the meal look appetizing, because it makes the food enticing and looks like a work of art. Some would have their favorite cartoon characters or super heroes on their Bento boxes. Kyaraben are also designed for family picnics and outings. This originated way backe some 900 years ago although the first boxes made for bento were the wooden boxes made during the late 16th century.Bento box lunches have been popular ever since, and there are thousands sold daily at train stations.