Japanese Bento boxes often make for delicious meals, full of deliciously seasoned rice, meat, seafood or tofu. When served as meals on trains across Japan, the boxes also become small, edible works of art.
If you order a Japanese Bento box on a train, you're likely to be served a wonderful, savory meal in a lidded dish shaped like a bull's head, a cartoon ghost or a seashell. Japanese train companies take the opportunity of Bento box meals to showcase cultural symbols of the region travelers are heading to. The attention given to the specialty boxes is evidence that the famous art of Japanese hospitality is alive and well.
In her beautifully photographed book 'Ekiben,' Aki Tomura documents the most beautiful and unusual Japanese Bento boxes. The book's title is a combination of the words 'eki,' which means station, and 'bento,' which is the Japanese word for lunchbox.
Bento Box Travel Guides
This Photo Book Documents Japanese Bento Box Meals Served on Trains
Trend Themes
1. Japanese Bento Box Art - Opportunity to create and showcase unique and artistic designs for Japanese Bento boxes on trains, combining culinary and visual experiences.
2. Culinary Tourism - Growing trend of travelers seeking authentic and culturally significant food experiences, such as trying different Bento box meals on trains across Japan.
3. Photographic Food Documentation - Increasing popularity of visually stunning food photography and books like 'Ekiben' that capture and showcase the artistry of Japanese Bento boxes.
Industry Implications
1. Food Packaging - Opportunity to design innovative and eye-catching packaging for Bento boxes served on trains, incorporating cultural symbols and regional themes.
2. Travel and Tourism - Opportunity to promote and develop culinary tourism experiences, highlighting Bento box meals as a unique and memorable part of train journeys in Japan.
3. Publishing - Opportunity to produce visually captivating books and content that document and celebrate the art and culture of Japanese Bento boxes and the train travel experience.