Bento (弁当 bentō?) is a single-portion takeaway or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento holds rice, fish or meat, with pickled or cooked vegetables, usually in a box container, which range from disposable mass produced to hand crafted lacquerware. Bento boxes are readily available in many places throughout Japan, including convenience stores, bento shops (弁当屋 bentō-ya?), railway stations, and department stores. However, Japanese housewives often spend time and energy on a carefully prepared lunch box for their family. (Norms, this makes me think of the South African "Scaf-tin" ha ha)

Bento can be elaborately arranged in a style called "kyaraben" meaning "character bento".

Various styles include:

"Kyaraben" are typically decorated.

"Oekakiben" or "picture bento". This is decorated to look like people, animals, monuments, or items such as flowers and plants.

"Hokaben (ホカ弁)" is any kind of bento bought at a take-out bento shops. Freshly cooked hot (hokahoka) rice is usually served with freshly prepared side dishes. The name was popularized after a pioneering take-out bento franchise in the field, Hokka Hokka Tei.

"Hayaben (早弁)", literally "early bento", is eating a bento before lunch, and having another lunch afterward.

"Ekiben" is a bento sold at railway stations (eki) or onboard trains.