Did you know that November 8 was “Good Teeth Day”? It’s just one of many little-known specially designated mini-holidays in Japan. And what better way to celebrate your pearly whites than with tooth-themed bentos! Take a look at a few clever lunchboxes showcased on Japanese cooking sites.
Good Teeth Day was created in 1993 to celebrate proper oral hygiene by a joint effort of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Japan Dental Association. November 8 was specifically chosen for this day because the date can be read as “ii ha” or “good teeth” in Japanese.
Let’s break it down: The 11 in November resembles the Japanese hiragana symbol, い. When two of them are put together, you get “ii” or “good.” The 8 can be read in a number of ways, but in this case, it’s “ha” or “teeth.” So it looks like November 8 was destined to be a day of tooth celebration.
And as promised, here are those slightly frightening but somehow cute tooth bentos:
Happy belated Good Teeth Day, everyone! Be good to your chompers!
[ Read in Japanese ]