The Kyaraben trend is still going strong in Japan, and even though winter has prompted some to make the temporary switch to deco-nabe, the demand for adorable packed lunches shows no signs of abating. Today we’d like to take a look back over the best of the past year’s Kyaraben. What can we learn about 2014 in Japan from studying these perfect works of edible art?
The year’s most popular Kyaraben characters can be whittled down to a shortlist of just three. These three mascots dominated lunchboxes in 2014, meaning that if you showed up to elementary school without one of these little critters peeking up at you from a mound of rice and carefully shaped seaweed, well, then you knew you just weren’t one of the cool kids.
In third place, it’s Funassyi! (Un-)officially representing the city of Funabashi, Chiba, this jiggly yellow pear has captured the attention of kids everywhere (as well as inspiring our own Mr Sato to create a homage character), prompting doting parents to endeavour to reproduce its adorableness utilising the medium of bento.
@funassyi 初キャラ弁♪ヽ(´▽｀)/フナッシーキャラ弁作ってみたよー♪ pic.twitter.com/DMfRNTYwwt
— (^-^)/ (@Em08043W) December 9, 2014
https://twitter.com/yodosuke/status/537978076177522688
▼ This Funassyi looks a little melted!
今話題のふなっしーのキャラ弁です^ - ^http://t.co/tYpAd50tsM
— キャラ弁大好き！ (@kyarabentou1110) December 18, 2014
▼ Funassyi and Kumamon (Kumamoto Prefecture’s mascot) collaboration!
https://twitter.com/DgEagles/status/539040777976832000
https://twitter.com/monanday/status/537085940838051840
In second place, it could only be Disney’s Frozen! Known in Japan as “Anna and the Snow Queen”, this wintry tale of two sisters has excited little Japanese girls just as much as those in the West.
▼ Elsa looking good enough to eat!
https://twitter.com/FrozenMOVlE/status/542468319870464000
スゲー！ アナ雪弁当！→ありのままの弁当（キャラ弁） by momoko☆ - http://t.co/ZCaF2qWd3d pic.twitter.com/bQ884M5NkF
— 渡辺恒一郎 (@tunecan) July 10, 2014
▼ Plenty of Olaf the goofy snowman, too.
やっとおわたー(￣▽￣)
— Banny💟 (@Banny1121) November 13, 2014
三人分のキャラ弁はきつい笑
サイドのオラフ横からみたらブス😂👏
食べる頃には崩れてるだろ〜な爆笑
んま味は確かです（≧∇≦） pic.twitter.com/SSRMCSUnyx
▼ He’s made out of fish cakes!
アナ雪のオラフのキャラ弁完成(o'ω')ﾉ
— ゆうりmama (@yabubu_jump) August 28, 2014
3D風に作った(*´∀｀*)ﾉ
あと、ご飯のつぶが見えるの嫌やから
はんぺん薄くスライスして
ご飯に巻いてみた(●´ー｀●)
今回は、息子も絶賛ww#オラフ #キャラ弁 #アナ雪 pic.twitter.com/67UkM6hW9H
And of course, the clear winner is the monster hit cross-media series, Youkai Watch!
▼ This one is just so perfectly crafted!
https://twitter.com/dennjyu_josi/status/546049478386388992
▼ Whisper made out of an egg!
流行りのやつですね。キャラ弁 ⇒ さぁ、今日は運動会行ってお父さんやってくるぞ！ まぁいつもお父さんだけど、こー、定番のお父さんをしっかりやる日は切り替えないと、照れちゃってあまり行動しなくなっちゃうというめんどくさい性格。 pic.twitter.com/2l0Rhm2pjJ
— 田端秀章📈公式アカウント (@hideaki825) May 30, 2014
https://twitter.com/kyara_ben01/status/545792151628435456
▼ Crazy seaweed cutting skills here!
妖怪ウォッチ キャラ弁 画像 pic.twitter.com/j6tcXj1Enb
— キャラ弁大好き！ (@kyarabentou1110) December 19, 2014
And here’s some of the runners-up:
▼ Baymax from Big Hero 6
https://twitter.com/chinatsu_take76/status/546081300537290752
▼ Mickey, still going strong
https://twitter.com/pasepecytyr/status/545108000835264512
▼ Aw, how adorable is this kiss?
いやいや、えんじゃけどな…ま、閉まらんでな(´Д` ) RT @basuke_douga: RT @iinovirtue: ミッキーとミニーのハイクオリティなキャラ弁♡
— 土屋雄太／ひじラボ所長 (@hiji_rock) June 12, 2014
☆ http://t.co/IFe4rJ790z
▼ Pikachu hanging in there after a rough year
カレーピカチュウ - 定番薄焼き玉子でポケモンキャラ♪ キャラ弁レシピや作り方を検索＆投稿『キャラ弁まにあ』 #kyaraben #charaben #キャラ弁 #お弁当 #ポケモン pic.twitter.com/wXZQIjG6rl
— もはや芸術！キャラ弁集合 (@chara_ben_) December 5, 2014
▼ This writer’s personal favorite lazy bear, Rilakkuma!
過去のキャラ弁4回目
— moca.萌香イラストレーター (@mocaouo) October 2, 2014
定番リラックマ。
最近キャラ弁作ってないなぁ…。
今度としおキャラ弁でも作るかな(n´v｀n)むふふ♡ pic.twitter.com/JpXIzff5mP
▼ Toddlers’ favorite Anpanman!
金曜日のキャラ弁〜！次女(年少)の親子遠足やったけん定番のアンパンマンとバイキンマン♪しまじろう撃沈やったけど、これは我ながら可愛く出来て満足♡笑 #キャラ弁 #弁当 pic.twitter.com/w42TclyVXG
— ジャスミン@福岡アクセサリー (@1212_jy) April 28, 2014
▼ A little more Kumamon!
今日は遠足ーっ。
— モミ (@momi_ha_a_ha_a) April 27, 2014
朝一、つわりきついけど。がんばったよ。かぁちゃん。キャラ弁希望ゆわれたから、くまもんで。
なんとなく、くまもんにみえればよし。 pic.twitter.com/jbl4YOQsVx
▼ My Neighbor Totoro!
https://twitter.com/ashlie547/status/544975727943114753
▼ And this incredible Metal Gear Solid 3D bento!
ハイクオリティのキャラ弁w pic.twitter.com/Mbxm0jZB
— あじさい (@hydrangea_0821) February 10, 2013
We can’t wait to see what new and wonderful Kyaraben 2015 has in store for us!
Source: Naver Matome
Main Image: Twitter @dennjyu/josi
Japanese dad turns daughter’s illustration into her bento lunch
Frozen senbei packaging “looks like Anna hailing a cab for drunk Elsa” 【Pic】
Japan’s favorite city mascot goes on talk show, says it’s tired, wants to go back to Pear Land
Real-life Olaf takes Twitter by (snow)storm
Yo-kai Watch mania has even reached the vegetable world! Here’s a Halloween pumpkin roundup!
Foreign driver’s license conversion test passes plummet from over 90% to 33% in Japan
Japanese convenience store chain has beer and sake dispensers that few people know about
KFC Japan opens a Christmas restaurant in Tokyo…but why???
Japan’s Shinkansen trains are getting a Super Mario makeover【Pics】
That awkward moment when anime becomes reality
New product aimed at Japanese women and cosplayers helps to create a slimmer, taller nose
Looking for a job in Japan? New “Sugoi Kawaii” maid cafe in Akihabara now hiring foreigners!
Here are the top ten foodie factory tours for the fall throughout Japan
Is there demand for merch of our stylish reporter? Let’s find out with the Ikuna Acrylic Standee
Lest we forget 1936: The year fake Mickey Mouse attacked Japan
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
Studio Ghibli stamps lift your spirits with motivational phrases from Totoro
New fish discovered and named “Vanderhorstia supersaiyan” for obvious reasons
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Tokyo hotel lets you make your stay a Sanrio one with special My Melody and Kuromi rooms【Pics】
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
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】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition
Love sweets, hate Frozen? Solution: repurpose your Olaf bun into Bert from Sesame Street!
Japanese net users surprised to learn that painfully cute bento was in fact made by a teenage boy
Cool Nengajo, bro! Check out six of the most awesome New Year’s postcards of 2015!
What would Youkai Watch look like drawn by famous manga artists? Well, it would look like this!
Twitter user in Japan makes amazing, tiny nail art with nail clippers and a utility knife【Pics】
Graduating high-schoolers in Japan tweet photos of the last lunch bentos their moms made for them
Snow zombies and spooky faces: Snowpocalypse 2016 in Japan!【Pics】
Heavy snowfall gives the people of Japan a chance to show off their secret sculpting skills【Pics】
Brothers’ bento blooper shows the potential downside of having your mom pack your lunch in Japan
Enjoy a platter of Youkai Sashimi while we explain that cat’s name
Youkai Watch set to embrace modernity with new “Youkai Pad” accessory
We try Youkai Watch Pretz “our milk flavored” snacks, now with 6% milk!
Do NOT eat this delicious looking bento and other Japanese food…because they’re not food!【Pics】
Jibanyan, Japan chooses you! Pikachu trampled beneath paws of Youkai Watch mascot
Meet Nowa Yukigami, Japan’s cute-looking, panty-flashing mascot cat
Midwinter “cherry blossoms” are making one of Japan’s best castles even more stunning【Photos】
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