Recently, a friend told me that Japanese scouting associations recommend a simple lunch like rice balls during activities for the children in their scout troops. It’s called a “Scout bento.” ...

Rice balls with corn have a summery flair ... She spent two years studying baking in Paris and began making bento around 2016 during her seven-year stay in India. She returned to Japan in 2020 ...

Before the lacquered boxes, before the neatly packed parcels, there was simply hoshi-ii — dried rice, carried by 12th-century samurai and travellers. A meal of necessity, tucked in small pouches ...

The other bento elements include one or two main dishes with protein, and two side dishes. The rice is often simply boiled, or it can be something fancier like rice balls wrapped in toasted nori ...

Every day, office workers line up during their breaks to buy bento boxes, rice balls, and sandwiches. By the early afternoon, most of the shelves are empty. The unsold items that are within an ...