She’s never played a single game in the series, but she’s made one of the coolest works of Zelda fan art ever.
chara-ben
As we expect you already know, character lunch boxes or “chara-ben,” short for “character bento,” are all the rage in Japan. And their creators are rarely shy about sharing their awesome work, so you can find hundreds of examples of how to make lunch time more adorable on social media networks like Instagram and Twitter.
One of the biggest themes for chara-ben right now is Disney’s Tsum Tsum, a line of stuffed toys that has been adapted into a smartphone game by Line. There were so many great photos, we had to compile our favorite Tsum Tsum chara-ben shots from Instagram for you to check out. But don’t forget to grab a snack, because you’re definitely going to get hungry!
Considering how much Japan loves food and cute things, it’s no surprise that the country is in the middle of a chara-ben boom. Chara-ben, bento boxed lunches with their contents arranged like popular characters such as Hello Kitty and Doraemon, are a hit with adults and children alike, as parents seem to be having as much fun making them as their kids are eating them.
But not everyone loves this trend of culinary creativity, though, as some preschools and day care centers have started banning chara-ben.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Häagen-Dazs releases new Green Tea sandwich in Japan for a limited time
Foreign man arrested for walking on Shinkansen tracks, claims he was on the run from yakuza
Schoolkids learn life skills through shopping field trips at street markets in Kochi Prefecture
Family Mart unveils new Japanese bread that elevates convenience store food to mocchiri levels
Japanese manhole lid raises eyebrows with fertility god symbol that looks like… well, you know
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Japanese expat remembers the words that changed his life when he started working in Australia
Starbucks releases 47 new Frappuccinos in Japan, one for every prefecture
Man breaks into Japanese high school, steals desk to “get taste of the world of Love Live” anime
Weekly
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
Pokémon lacquerware series expands for Year of the Horse with new handcrafted design[Video]- Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Tokyo teahouse serves up a sakura matcha dessert you won’t find anywhere else
Totoro Fund line of beautiful artwork and apparel lets you help the real-world Totoro Forest
Monthly
- Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]- Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Yearly
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
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
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
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
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Japanese manhole lid raises eyebrows with fertility god symbol that looks like… well, you know
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Japanese expat remembers the words that changed his life when he started working in Australia
Starbucks releases 47 new Frappuccinos in Japan, one for every prefecture
Man breaks into Japanese high school, steals desk to “get taste of the world of Love Live” anime
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
The Almost All Lettuce Burger from Dom Dom Burger really lives up to its name
Getting a driver’s license in Japan the hard way: The first driving test a few more times
Famous koi ponds overwhelmed with tourists throwing thousands of coins in them
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Pikachu and Eevee will give YOU hugs with these awesomely adorable new Pokémon pillows
Manga meat can be yours to eat in the real world with Manga Meat Bone kitchenware【Photos】
Goodbye, Kyoto Animation Studio #1 – Arson-struck studio now completely demolished, cleared away
-
