She’s never played a single game in the series, but she’s made one of the coolest works of Zelda fan art ever.
character bento
The latest lunchbox from this girl’s character bento-making dad probably raised a lot of questions at school.
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!
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?
MOST POPULAR
Today
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
7-Eleven Japan adds new chocolate fruit gummies to its sweets range, but are they worth the hype?
Japan’s favorite popsicles add multilingual packaging to better connect with foreign tourists
Studio Ghibli’s No Face twirls to sound of Spirited Away’s theme song in beautiful accessory box
Sweet dreams are made of cheese at this all-you-can-eat cheese and doria restaurant
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store sandwiches with a wild new choc-mint variety
We tried Starbucks Japan’s new coffee for people who don’t drink coffee
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
Weekly
- Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
- Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever gacha capsule toys, featuring iconic menu items as plush coffee charms
Kyoto receives more foreign tourists than ever before, but fewer visitors say they’ll return
7-Eleven Japan now offering baked-in-store pizza by the slice with two very different topping sets
Starbucks Japan unveils exclusive new Frappuccinos limited to three regional areas
Starbucks Japan opens new store inside historic seaside quarantine station near Tokyo
Foreign tourists in Japan eat far more rice than previously thought, according to new data- Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
Live-action Princess Mononoke is coming to streaming as a live event, previews look amazing [Video]
Monthly
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]- Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo- Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]- Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad- Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store sandwiches with a wild new choc-mint variety
We tried Starbucks Japan’s new coffee for people who don’t drink coffee
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
Japan’s Super Volunteer, 86-year-old Haruo Obata, heads to the Kumamoto earthquake site
Japanese popsicle experiment says eating one before going outside in summer helps keep you cool
Godiva Japan gets into the shaved ice scene with two luxurious frozen desserts this summer
Live-action Princess Mononoke is coming to streaming as a live event, previews look amazing [Video]
New Studio Ghibli washi tape adds anime flair to Japanese stationery
Kyoto receives more foreign tourists than ever before, but fewer visitors say they’ll return
Daiso now sells stress-relief punching bags, but are they worth beating on?
Tokyo security guard’s famous station tape font becomes official custom Nike streetwear
Is covering your entire upper body with cooling strips enough to fend off Japan’s summer heat?
-
