Kyaraben, short for “character bento”, are insanely popular in Asia and Japan in particular. Young mothers, and some fathers too no doubt, spend hours crafting special lunch boxes, using all manner of foodstuffs to create shapes, faces and designs, and there are even entire books and monthly magazines containing hundreds of ideas. Over the years, we’ve seen lunch boxes based everything from Nivea hand cream to video game smash Metal Gear Solid, but it’s easy to forget that the practice of dressing up a packed lunch has, in fact, been around for quite some time.
Shared via Twitter earlier this week by a user named Clicohibi, these kyaraben were apparently made and photographed some 10 years ago, proving not only that the concept has existed for quite some time but that it wasn’t always lunches based on popular characters that were all the rage.
The first photo sees a selection of cucumber sushi rolls, known as kappamaki, with a goblin-like creature sitting in the middle of one. In Japanese folklore, Kappa are spirits that take the form of a child-sized entity and dwell in or near rivers. Although often mischievous and in ancient times often blamed for drownings, these spirits are thought to occasionally befriend humans, particularly if they share food with them.
As you may already have guessed, Kappa are said to be especially fond of cucumbers, so it’s fitting that the creator of this little lunch set has taken the idea of kappamaki to the extreme and crafted a miniature river spirit popping his head out from the middle of one of the rice rolls.
▼ The quality of the photo leads us to believe that this really was taken 10 years ago. Thank you, modern smartphones for your high megapixel cameras!
The second photo offered up by the same Twitter user shows what appears to be an elaborate bento based on kids’ TV series Nihon Mukashibanashi, which ran for almost 20 years, beginning in 1975.
▼ Isn’t he a little cutie? It’s easy to forget that this is lunch, sometimes!
It just goes to show: the subject matter may change as quickly as the four seasons Japanese people keep banging on about having, but when it comes to creativity with food, it’s been around for aeons.
Source: Togech JP
Japanese dad turns daughter’s illustration into her bento lunch
Kyaraben roundup! We take a look back at 2014’s best packed lunches 【Pics】
We tried all seven of Muji’s new “Bento of the Day” boxed lunch sets
Malaysian food artist Samantha Lee serves up more platefuls of amazeballs
From plums to panties, the strange and beautiful bento of Keisuke Umeda【Photos】
Tokyo’s new extra-expensive ramen restaurant is dividing opinions, so we tried a bowl
Gundam teams up with 300-year-old daruma maker for wood-carved anime mecha figures[Photos]
Used chopsticks upgraded from “waste” to “valuable material” by Kawasaki City thanks to ChopValue
Japan’s instant ramen snack theme park features an athletic course even adults can enjoy
Pizza Hut Japan’s drinkable curry pizza is here – Is it all we dreamed it would be?[Taste test]
Bizarre Japanese vending machine sells “Peace and Equality” and “Angels and Demons”
Japanese temple burns to the ground, fire burning inside for 1,200 years unharmed
McDonald’s Japan adds curry French fry flavor, regional-taste burgers to its menu with Gotochi Mac
The story of our reporter P.K. Sanjun’s heart attack
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
This Tokyo Station sweets sensation sells out daily, but we finally got our hands on it
Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists
Krispy Kreme Japan is bringing two special donuts to the most-forgotten big city in the country
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Starbucks Japan hoping fans will go bananas for its new mottainai banana affogato Frappuccino
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Kyoto’s Nishiki Market has great bento boxed lunches, and here are our top 3 picks
If you thought Japanese lunches couldn’t get any cuter, you were wrong
New Travelling Bento pouches turn your luggage into a Japanese lunch box
Japanese dad turns daughter’s drawings into her bento lunches
16 fancy eggs from Japanese bento lunch boxes
This is what a 8,500-yen (US$76) Tokyo bento beef boxed lunch looks like【Taste test】
Lunch Exchange: We Taste Test Japanese “Station Bentos” from New York’s Grand Central Station
Japanese freight container bento satisfies our hunger for unusual lunches
The Mother of all Bentos–a Japanese meal that’s to die for
Japanese mom wows us with her ‘eggstraordinary’ food art
Cute ekiben station bento looks like it’s from Japan but it’s from a different place entirely
Tokaido Shinkansen Sushi Journey Bento takes your taste buds on a trip from Tokyo to Osaka
This gigantic panda bento from Tokyo’s Kitchen Dive is deviously generous (and freaky-looking)
Studio Ghibli meals from the world of Japanese anime look absolutely delicious in real-life【Pics】