I. The Rice of Time (Origins & Early History)Before the lacquered boxes, before the neatly packed parcels, there was simply hoshi-ii — dried rice, carried by 12th-century samurai and travellers. A ...

Japan is one of the most culinarily rich countries on Earth, and many of its ancient food traditions live on today. One of the most iconic and resilient of these traditions is the humble bento box ...

Prepared meals from convenience stores are popular lunch items in Japan. Every day, office workers line up during their breaks to buy bento boxes, rice balls, and sandwiches. By the early ...