Katachi Bento Blog, Easy Japanese Recipes, Ideas & Reviews
Read up to date information about the Katachiware bento blog which is dedicated to the latest news including Japanese bento box recipes, cookbook reviews, latest products, what’s in a bento box, , bento basics, traditional recipes, bento history, ingredients, ideas, Ekiben, must-try restaurants, adult bento box information and much more. Enjoy!
7 Interesting Facts About 3,000-Year-Old Japanese Chopsticks
Are you a Japanese food lover? If yes then you must be used to using Japanese Chopsticks which have become so synonymous with Japanese cuisine that originated in a country other than Japan. The following article traces the history of this unassuming yet very significant dining tool which has gained worldwide acceptance and helped to...
Bento Lunch Boxes & Diet, What Wikipedia Doesn’t Tell You About Them
Bento Lunch Boxes & Diet - Many of us struggle to contain a healthy diet, especially during Covid restrictions those extra kilograms keep piling on and there seems to be no end to it. Countless diets are considered but very few help us to reach our weight loss goals. Most diets are based on making huge sacrifices and lifestyle c...
9 Interesting Facts About Bento That You Probably Had No Idea About
Facts About Bento - Today we all take bento boxes for granted, lovely prepared lunches or Japanese cooked meals that we look forward to devouring though how much do you really know about the multi-compartmental boxes? Originating from Japan, the demand for bento boxed meals continues to grow. From adorable bento for kids to beautifu...
What is Bento Uncovered, Definition, History, Origin & Benefits
The concept of bento has been around since the 12th century but what is bento, what does bento mean, what are bento boxes used for and where did they originate? The English word "bento" is derived from the Japanese word bentou or "ben(t)ō" お弁当 which refers to a Japanese boxed lunch. While bento is the packed lunch the term Bentō-bak...
Irresistible Tsukune Recipe, Traditional Japanese Meatball
This Tsukune recipe (Japanese meatballs) is typically made with ground chicken or pork. They’re grilled with a sweet, sticky, tangy sauce that makes them totally irresistible. Packed with flavour and incredibly moist and tender, you will love serving these in a traditional bento box for a weeknight dinner or a party appetiser. The m...
Easy to Make Japanese Chicken Teriyaki Recipe
This simple and healthy classic Japanese Chicken Teriyaki Recipe for bento is a delight to make, an easy recipe to cook it includes enough ingredients for two servings. Great for preparing a lovely dinner at home or for taking to work or the school place. Cooking for four people? Just double the ingredients and allow a little extra ...
Bento Boxes for Adults, Simple Yet Elegant Grown-Up Bento
Japanese bento boxes for Adults is an inherent part of Japanese culture, however; it has become an integral part of the global culture too in today’s times. It's easy to go overboard at lunch and bento is perfect for portion control any meal. Their capacity and compartmentalised design allow you to fit varied food items without any...
Ekiben History Unraveled, Japanese Train Bento 1872-2021
Learn about the Ekiben History (train station bento). Takeaway meal sold in bento boxes at train stations and in trains across Japan that gives you a chance to taste the local cuisine without leaving the station. Ekiben (駅弁当) is an abbreviation of ‘Eki-bento’ or ‘Eki-uri-bento’ and is made up of two Japanese words, namely ‘eki’ whic...
Elegant Addition to the Mokusei Bentō Box Collection
The year has just passed the halfway mark and we have been working hard at adding new products to our collection though 2021 is just getting warmed up. Later this year we expect to be introducing a new range of Mokusei Bento Boxes which have been under production since before Covid started. The new range will include the Camphor Woo...
Legendary Kamameshi Bento, Ekiben with a Difference
Kamameshi Bento has caught up with the rest of us and today you have several kinds of bento boxes catering to the varied tastes and needs. You have bento's being sold at airports, railway stations, onboard trains as well as specific convenience and department stores. Specific boxed meals that are ob...
Shikaeshi Bento, Revenge Bento Uncovered
Curious to know how a Japanese wife’s anger is expressed while preparing lunch for her husband? "Uncooked rice, an uncooked egg or a broken heart cut from Nori and one chopstick”, OUCH! Shikaeshi bento is the Japanese wives revenge bento prepared after an argument and it's not the lunch you hope to try. Couples can’t always expect...
Yochien Obento Lunch Box “Kindergarden Bento”
In Japan, there is a specific term for Yochien obento (お弁当, o-ben·to), and depending on who you ask you will always get a different answer on what Yochien obento means. Japanese obento lunch boxes have many variations. In this article, we discuss Yochien Obento Lunch Box "Kindergarden Bento" with a cultural order and meaning; it is ...
Bento for Beginners: 60 Recipes for Easy Bento Box Lunches
Whether you're cooking for everyday family meals or entertaining to impress, you can find a variety of traditional Japanese recipes in the Bento for Beginners cookbook. A must have for those wanting to get started and on the way to Japanese cooking success. Most cookbooks have a few recipes but we were consistently impressed with th...
Tonkatsu Recipe, Japanese Pork Cutlet Recipe
For all those new to Japanese food, this Tonkatsu Recipe is made up of a crunchy deep-fried pork cutlet made the Japanese way. The cutlet is coated with special bread crumbs, covered with Tonkatsu sauce and served on a bowl of hot steamed rice alongside shredded pieces of cabbage. The term ‘Katsu’ is an abbreviated form of katsurets...
Eat Japan, Lonely Planet Food
Eat Japan, Lonely Planet Food is the ultimate guide to Japanese dining and food culture. This book will teach you exactly what not to do to avoid appearing like an uneducated tourist, whether it's rubbing your chopsticks together, presenting money to a sushi chef, or removing your shoes with your foot straight on the floor. The Lone...
Bento Box History, From Kamakura Period (1185-1333)
Bento Box History begins in Japan, early in the Kamakura Period. Today bento boxes are one of the most common packaging types used for takeaway's, frozen meals, lunch boxes for work or school, and for serving delicious Japanese inspired meals at home or a restaurant. Bento Box History - Hanami Cherry Blossom Viewing ...
Communication Made Easy With Bento Boxes
Bento is the go-to Japanese style lunch box for people on the go but have you tried using one for unspoken communication? Bento boxes are known for being a healthy and nutritious option however they have added another feather to their cap by becoming the best mode of unspoken communication between the maker and eater. How so, you mi...
Okonomiyaki Recipe for Bento
Experience the delicious delicacies of Japan with this customisable Okonomiyaki recipe. The Japanese savoury pancake is easy to make at home, full of authentic flavours and textures, sure to be a family favourite. Okonomiyaki お好み焼き translates to ‘grilled as you like it. It's iconic street food in Osaka, Japan that was adopted during...
How to Prepare a Japanese Lunch Box
Japanese lunch boxes have become a popular substitute for a bagged lunch for the office and school or prepare elaborate meals for the family. The idea of packing bento may seem a little overwhelming at first, but with a little preparation and practice, the task becomes easier and is quite fulfilling. Packing a Japanese Bento Box is ...
Onigiri Recipe (Japanese Rice Balls), Delicious & Easy to Make
Onigiri Recipe (Japanese Rice Balls) were originally served with Makunouchi Bento (Between-Act Bento). Patrons were served bite-sized rice balls with exotic fillings to keep them occupied between act intermissions, Today they are a healthy and delicious option for serving with bento lunch boxes. Onigiri, also known as omusubi consis...
Fascinating Makunouchi Bento (Between-Act Bento)
Makunouchi Bento (makuno-uchi bent) is a Japanese term that translates as Between-Act Bento. As one might expect, they have something to do with theatre performances, having been served during Noh and Jabuki "behind the curtain" theatre acts during the Edo era (1603-1867). You were served a wonderful two-section lunch to keep you bu...
Fascinating Korean Bento Boxes, Dosirak Lunch Box
Korean bento boxes (Dosirak) are a popular Korean lunch box that is packed with a homemade meal that can also be purchased from dosirak stores. Similar to Japanese bento boxes they are normally served with rice and an assortment of traditional side dishes. Dosirak bento boxes normally include a meal that is warm or at room temperat...
Hanami Bento “Japanese Flower Viewing Festival”
Colourful Hanami Bento is a tiered lunch box that is an ideal component for serving meals while contemplating the beauty of cherry blossom trees in Japan. Hanami Bento (flower viewing bento) is centuries old, dating back to the Nara period (710 to 794), Hanami is the traditional Japanese custom of appreciating the beauty of cherry b...
12 Ways of Using Furoshiki Gift Wrap
Furoshiki Gift Wrap originated in Japan around 710 B.C. during the Nara period. During this time, the cloth that an object was wrapped in was referred to as Tsutsumi, meaning “package” or “present.” It was primarily used to wrap important goods and treasures found in Japanese temples. During the Heian period, which lasted from 794 to 1185, t...
Ultimate Bento Review: 85 Mix-and-Match Bento Box Recipes
2020 Gourmand Food Culture Award Winner. With these fun, easy and delicious Japanese inspired recipes, anyone can venture into the world of bento boxes—no special tools or containers necessary! Book Title: Ultimate Bento: Healthy, Delicious and Affordable: 85 Mix-and-Match Bento Box Recipes By: Marc Matsumoto, Maki Ogawa Number Of P...
About Bento Boxes In Japan, All You Need to Know
Bento boxes in Japanese culture are associated with a healthy meal on the go that originated many 400 years ago. Though the midday meal choices are endless, the bento box still remains a favourite mode to relish the lunch meal for a large section of the population. The following article is an interesting brief that traces the origin of be...
1910, Australia First Discovers Bento
The first Japanese bento boxes Australia record was in June 1910 in an article by the Perth The Daily News where a young man recollects his experience of bento while taking a train ride in Japan. Bento boxes can be categorised into three types that we use today. Homemade bento which we make for the family to take to school or work l...
Learn How to Prepare Matcha Tea Like a Japanese Tea Master
Learn how to prepare matcha tea from home. Matcha is a diverse ingredient that may be used to produce tea, lattes, baked goods, and even skincare products. Matcha is abundant in antioxidants, such as polyphenols, which may protect and prevent damage to the body by lowering health risks. It contains a unique blend of l-theanine and c...
Shokado Bento, Simple, Elegant & Inspiring
Shokado bento box (松花堂弁当) pronounced "shookadoo" bento is a simple yet beautifully lacquered thirty centimeter square box divided into four equal compartments like the Chinese character for FIELD 田, with partitions that include extended edges and a lid to keep its contents warm. Shokado Bento named after Shojo Shokado (1582-October ...
Jubako, Japanese Tiered Picnic Bento
Used in Japan during the Heian period (794-1185), Jubako Bento (重箱) means "Layered Bento Boxes". Similar to traditional bento boxes they are a combination of elaborately decorated lacquered boxes used for holding and presenting food on outings or special occasions. The upper-classes traditionally used Jubako Bento to hold takeaway m...
Aisai Bento (Lunchbox of Beloved Wife)
An offshoot, the shikaeshi bento box, the Aisai Bento or “bento made by loving wife” is what it is. Bento box made with love from a wife towards her husband in the form of a delicious, nutritious, visually appealing lunch box. Perhaps one of the greatest ways to say “I love you” while you’re away at work. Similarly, young women in r...
Koraku Bento (Picnic Lunchbox)
Koraku Bento translated into English is Picnic Lunchbox. As the name suggests, Koraku Bento boxes are made for sharing among a group of people at picnics, day outings and sports events. In March and April, they are prepared and shared with a group of friends during the cherry blossom viewing festivals. Similar to traditional bento ...
Kyaraben Bento “Character Bento”
Most of us are familiar with the bento box concept; the Japanese origin home-packed or pre-made store-bought meal. However, very few will be aware of what a Kyaraben bento is. A little unusual, fun, cute and artistic; are some of the terms that would best describe a Kyaraben bento! Kyaraben With the glo...
Noriben, Guilt-free Bento Made From Seaweed
Noriben Bento is a traditional bento meal made from seaweed, the name comes from nori (Japanese name for edible seaweed) and bento put together. Bento which is an inherent part of Japanese culture has caught up with the rest of the world and become a convenient and healthy option for serving dinner at home, lunches on the go or to e...
Biodegradable Bento Box Review
Biodegradable Bento Box, Use Bamboo | We are all well aware of the increasing impacts of global warming, and the go green initiative is being pushed forward. Many of us are looking at how we can reduce our impact on the environment by thinking twice when buying or using a product. One way of doing this is by purchasing products made...
Wood Bento Boxes, Go Green with Your Next Meal
Wood bento boxes, go green with your Japanese inspired meal. We are all hearing about our contribution to the dramatic rise in global warming, and the Go Green Initiative is being pushed forward in urgent earnest by most developed countries. It's our duty to use sustainable materials for items that we use daily, and one of those is ...
Top 4 Bento Lunch Box Food Groups
There are many advantages to preparing bento lunch box meals as a part of your daily life. You get to eat a balanced diet, save money if choosing the right foods possibly lose a few kilograms and most importantly develop healthy eating habits. Bento lunch boxes are perfect for getting your family to eat a balanced diet though it all...
What Goes in a Bento Box, Five Fundamental Rules
Bento boxes have become extremely popular for young and old. The container which serves as a useful medium for carrying healthy lunches while on the go or used at home for traditionally cooked Japanese recipes can be divided into two types; the everyday sensible bento and the decorative or traditional bento. The five fundamental rul...
Intriguing 19th Century Antique Japanese Bento Box
A circa 19th century antique Japanese bento box, in hardwood with brass accents. It has three stacking sections, secured by a brass bar through the handle and top box. Japanese Bento Box Antique Bento Boxes 1 Antique Bento Boxes 2 ...
Effortless Bento: 300 Box Lunch Recipes Book Review
Japanese Bento books have been one of the most accessible and popular genres to emerge from Japan in recent years, and Effortless Bento is the bento encyclopaedia. This is the essential box lunch book, featuring hundreds of full-colour images and several bento recipes. Book Title: Effortless Bento: 300 Box Lunch Recipes By: Shufu-no...
Sneak-Peek Kizoku Bento Boxes & Genji Motif Coming Soon
We are extremely excited to announce that the highly anticipated and exclusive to Katachiware the Limited Edition Kizoku Bento Boxes & Genji Motif is finally in production and due to land at the end of July 2021. The new bento box is made from a BPA Free, food-grade ABS resin and measures 300mm x 240mm x 58mm. It includes five c...
Koshin Bento (Waist Bento)
In the Edo period (1603 to 1867), the culture of the bento box grew in popularity and became more refined. Travellers and sightseers would carry a simple koshibentō, ("waist bento"), which consisted of several onigiri wrapped with bamboo leaves or in a woven bamboo box. Today, with bento boxes being...
Equipment for Bento Meals, The Essentials
Making bento meals have become extremely popular for entertaining guests and the family, they are also widely used for preparing a nutritionally balanced diet for lunches at the workplace, school lunches or even prepared for events, picnics and outings. The secret to making a delicious bento meal has the right bento equipment; this ...
Kyaraben Bento, The Beginner’s Guide
Kyaraben Bento or charaben (キャラ弁) which is a short term used in Japanese culture for "character bento" is a way of elaborately preparing your bento meals with food decorated to look like your favourite cartoon characters, people, movie stars, animals, family members, plants or anything else that interests the family. Originally, Kya...
Japanese Bento Boxes: The Quintessential Lunch
Japanese Bento Boxes | The ‘bento box’ that has its origins in Japan is more or less familiar to everyone worldwide. However, it is only the few who will know in-depth about it as to why it is being used or how it is to be used and the benefits obtained from its use. In Japan, the bento box is a part of every homemaker's daily ritua...
Healthy Bento Boxes Made Delightful
Healthy bento has its origins in Japan, where making beautifully packaged healthy lunches for the family is considered a ritual. Bento lunches for adults should be simple but arranged in such an attractive manner that the process of making healthy bento turns into culinary art. In recent years the bento box concept has spread across...
Bento Box Magic
Bento Box Magic | The sense of fun associated with bento boxes has made them highly popular worldwide. Besides the fun element, the functionality purpose is also served effectively by them. Bento boxes or Obentos as they are called in Japan are very appealing to kids and adults alike. Bento Box Magic Serves all purposes All kids who...
Hinomaru Bento “Patriotic Bento”
Hinomaru Bento | The term, Hinomaru, means ‘circle of the sun’ in Japanese and stands for the Japanese flag. Hinomaru bento is a traditional bento box with steamed rice with a pickled umeboshi in the centre as its food contents. The red umeboshi or plum resembles the Japanese flag, and hence this bento is called the ‘Hinomaru’ bento...
How to Make Bento, Healthy Beginner’s Guide
How to Make Bento has earned a reputation for being a healthy lunch or dinner on the go as they are stuffed with nutrients, colour and great taste. The image of a packed bento may fill a novice with trepidation thinking about the daunting task that lies ahead while preparing the meal. However, this need not be the case, if you adhe...
Healthy Bento Box, Tool for Kids Healthy Eating
Healthy Bento Box, Tool for Kids Healthy Eating | Eating a balanced lunch by the family members is the priority of every homemaker and rightly so! A human body needs to consume a varied amount of nutrients in the right proportions to function effectively. If your child brings his lunch home every day, it gets the mother all worried and frust...
Healthy Bento Boxes – Powerful, Slimmer You
Healthy Bento Boxes - One means to power your way to a slimmer you is by using a bento box! The bento box concept has become quite familiar to people across the world, yet it's good to refresh one’s knowledge about them and how they can help. Healthy Bento Boxes The world has been enriched with knowledge of nutrition and diet secrets t...
Healthy Japanese Bento, Convenient & Quick to Make
Healthy Japanese Bento | The Japanese bento box is an inherent part of Japan's food culture though now the idea has caught on in a big way in Western countries. Healthy Japanese Bento What is a Japanese Bento? The Japanese bento is supposed to be the lunch box, but it is something more than that; it contains its own distinct type of...
Japanese Tamagoyaki Bento Recipe
Japanese Tamagoyaki for Bento | Bento boxes has become popular among kids and adults worldwide today. They are a convenient and highly appealing medium for carrying packed lunches to school, offices, picnics etc. Japanese Tamagoyaki For Bento Tamagoyaki - One of the Favorite Bento Side Dishes One of the most popular bento side dishe...
Bento Box Culture, The Impact
Bento Box Culture | The homemade bento has been an inherent part of Japanese culture since the yore days and continues to be so even today. Used in several settings ranging from fall leaf viewing, hanami bento at cherry blossom viewing parties, baseball games, kabuki theatre to railway sojourns the bento is cherished essentiality in Japan. ...
Ekiben Bento, Fascinating Train Bento Story
Ekibentō or ekiben translates to station bento, Eki meaning train and Ben is short for Bento. First sold in during the Meiji period (1885), at the Utsunomiya Train Station in Japan's northern Kantō region. The meal consisted of two freshly made onigiri balls, a few slices of pickled daikon radish wrapped in a sheet of bamboo bark. ...
Japanese Bento Side Dishes, Quick & Easy
Japanese Bento Dishes | Bento boxes have become popular worldwide for several benefits offered by them. The multiple small-sized sections that it comes with help to size down the meal portions and also provide an option to carry varied food menu items. This encourages the individual to consume a balanced meal consisting of several nutrients ...
Oekakiben Bento
Oekakiben or "picture bento" is a type of bento box that is prepared by the mother for her child in a manner that the ingredients are decorated to resemble a picture or a scene. Often depicting objects such as animals, favourite pets, famous people, buildings, monuments, scenes from a favourite movie or specific items such as flower...
Katachi: The Center of Traditional Japanese Design
Katachi is rooted in Japanese design. It is the essence that signifies the form, symmetry, and workmanship of traditional craft. In the Western world, people often associate minimalism with Japanese design. However, that is not always the case! Katachi can also represent symmetry and workmanship. The Japanese aesthetic is all about...
Bamboo Bento Boxes, Sustainable Choice
Bamboo Bento Boxes | Most of us today are environment-conscious and doing our best to cut down the use of plastic products, leading to alternative products to be introduced into the market, including tableware and bento boxes. We dispose of over 300 million tons of plastic every year, which continues to grow at an alarming rate, wit...
Materials Used for Making Bento Boxes
When making bento boxes a wide variation of materials are used and it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your lunch box. Below is a list of materials used to make a bento box that will help you to make an informed choice. Materials Used for Making Bento Boxes Aluminium Aluminium is a lightweight metal and long-lasting. It i...
Which Bento Box Should I Use?
Which Bento Box Should You Use? Bento boxes help you to pack a healthy, colourful and tasty lunch and make lunchtimes at the workplace or school exciting and something to be waited for. It is essential to ensure that you have a box that best suits your requirements. Finding a perfect fit for the box will largely depend on what you intend to...
Bamboo Bento Boxes, Japanese Traditional
Bamboo bento boxes the standard of traditional style bento boxes to the next level. The concept which originated in Japan late in the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) is now ensconced in all parts of the world. Nevertheless, it does lead to wondering how much time needs to be allotted in the busy mornings for packing the elaborate bento ...
4 Restaurants That Serve Delicious Bento Boxes in Melbourne
There is nothing quite like eating a delicious Japanese inspired meal from a bento box. Available from more than 140 restaurants in Melbourne, we review 4 restaurants that serve delicious bento box lunches in Melbourne. The bento history can be traced back to the 16th Century Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1568 – 1600). Farmers sent on th...
Bento Box Ingredients, Most Popular
The main ingredients in a bento box are cooked rice which is accompanied by pickled vegetables or a mixed salad along with a serving of fish or meat. Following is a guide for the most popular bento box ingredients. Traditional Japanese lunch boxes or bento boxes have been quite popular since the 1980s. The microwave oven introductio...
Easy to Make Veggie Dumpling Recipe (Veggie Gyoza)
Dumplings are cooked balls of dough with different fillings. They may be cooked by boiling, steaming, simmering, frying, or baking. Dumpling wrappers can be found at Asian grocery stores. This recipe is only contains 275 calories but heavy enough for a meal.
Quick & Easy Bento Recipe
If you’re a keen bento box enthusiast and don’t have the time to prepare your favoured serving, look no further, don’t ask mum to make this for you.
Controversial History of Bento Boxes
The history of Bento Boxes starts during the Edo period (1603-1868) were various materials were used such as a magnolia leaf, oak leaf, bamboo sheath or bamboo leaf was used to wrap lunches on the go. These were not durable and didn't last long so they started to make bento wood. The earliest know record of bento was created by inte...
Beef Teriyaki Bento Recipe
This authentic beef teriyaki bento recipe made from scratch comes together by using only 5 ingredients and want take hours to create. With tender pieces of beef seared, glazed wih sweet and savory teriyaki sauce you can whip this up in no time and forget about those pre-made sauces.
