Cute Japanese Bento Lunch Boxes

Bento is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more pickled or cooked vegetables as a side dish. While bento are readily available at convenience stores and bento shops throughout Japan, it is still considered an essential skill of a Japanese housewife to be able to prepare an appealing boxed lunch. Bento can be very elaborate, aesthetically pleasing cuisine arrangements. Often the food is arranged in such a way as to resemble other objects: dolls, flowers, leaves, and so forth.
A bento is traditionally made in a 4:3:2:1 ratio: 4 parts of rice, 3 parts of the side dish (either meat or fish), 2 parts of vegetables, and 1 part of a serving of pickled vegetables or a dessert. However, almost anything can be used to make a bento. Here are some gallery of extra-cute bento.

kuririn bento

Hello Kitty Pita

Bento Containers

Hello Kitty Nigiri

Eyes Bento

Hard-Boiled Egg Bento

Clockwise from top: bunnymarshmallows; green asparagus with bacon on couscous; cucumber, red pepper, feta, olives, spring onion; pasta with pesto and cheese

Clockwise from top: wraps with humus, cucumber and fresh mint; mushroom and cucumber salad; radish flower on white and wild rice; egg with pesto filling

Clockwise from top: green beans; quiche with spinach and feta; cucumber salad; couscous salad

Clockwise from top: peas, sweetcorn, tofu and cheese flowers; carrotsalad with apple and sultanas; onigiri with tuna birdy; noodle salad

Tomato Lobster

Tree Frog

Sardine Bento

Piggie Bento

Strawberry Tomato

Green Tea Frapuccino

Photo sources:

lookatmyphotos, pkoceres, kitsa_sakurako, santos, kitsa_sakurako 1, @N00, carolichan, rainjuli, bentoboxes