Bento in Everyday Japanese Life
Besides feeding people at school or work, bento are also consumed on picnics, as well as in private homes and at parties, where they offer a convenient means of extending simple hospitality or serving large numbers of people.
In Japan, some schools provide lunch to the students, while others require students to bring their own lunches. In the latter case, the students' mothers usually prepare the lunches. However, some of the more industrious students like to make their lunches themselves. The custom of bringing lunch from home is quite prevalent not only among students but also among working adults.
When a person eats a box lunch prepared by a loved one, the preparer's feelings are transmitted through the food. In other words, the bento serves as a vehicle for communication between the maker and the eater. A bento prepared at home is imbued with the love of the eater's family.
But with more and more mothers working outside the home, bento are now being sold in increasing numbers at department stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores. There are even shops specializing in takeout bento. Besides the ever-popular makunouchi bento, many other kinds of box lunches are available, including Chinese-style and Western-style bento. (200 words)
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