Many people may be considering making bento lunches as they start a new phase in their life this spring. They have a number of options as to boxes, which are indispensable for preparing a homemade bento and have continued to appear in new versions. The latest models even cook rice and other food for their user -- eating hot rice might give many a boost at work in the afternoon.
According to the 2017 Shinsei Bank survey of monthly allowances for company employees, the percentage of company employees who bring a bento from home for lunch is 40.8 percent, making it the most popular lunchtime choice. By gender, the figure was 34.3 percent for men and 50.9 percent for women.
Many people apparently prepare bento by themselves because they can save money by not buying their lunch at convenience stores or eating out. Heightened awareness about the health benefits seems to be another reason for the increase in the number of people making bento at home.
OK in microwaves
In September 2017, Tokyo-based Thermos L.L.C. started selling "Gohan ga takeru bento-bako," a bento box for people who want to eat freshly cooked rice at work.
The thermos allows users to cook rice in a microwave at their office -- put in rice and water, heat it for eight minutes in the microwave at 500 watts, and then set it in a warming case for 30 minutes to cook the rice through.
Weighing 0.4 kilograms, the bento box is convenient to carry around. It can hold 0.7 go of rice, or about 105 grams, which is one serving.
"This bento box is a good size for people living alone who want to prepare a meal," a company official said.
Cook rice, side dishes together
"HOT Deshuran 2," a product of Rinso-do in Tokyo, is a bento box that cooks side dishes and keeps them warm on top of a section that cooks rice.
Users just plug in the main body of the device and put rice in the bottom container to cook it. By putting a special tray on top of the lower part, the side dishes are heated from the steam.
An earlier model was a hit, so for the successor "HOT 2" model, the firm increased the number of trays for side dishes from one to three. If the tray for frying is used instead of the pot tray, it is also possible to cook food.
The device can be used for a wide range of cooking, such as boiling sausages and making sunny-side up eggs.
At 1.6 kilograms in weight, the device is rather big, but using it means "it's possible to enjoy cooking meals that are affordable and fairly substantial," a company official said.
Donburi dishes
Recommended for company employees who want to eat a huge hot bento at work is the "Hokadon donburi lunch jar," produced by Pearl Metal Co. in Niigata Prefecture.
This bento box was designed especially for donburi rice bowl dishes. Its main unit, which is made of stainless steel and has a double vacuum structure, has a high capability for retaining heat.
Its standard size can hold two bowls of rice; a tokumori, or super large size, is also available. To prevent juice from soaking into the rice too much, the sections for rice and other ingredients have been separated into upper and lower segments. If food is put onto the rice just before eating, users can enjoy authentic donburi dishes.
Hot onigiri via USB
A hot lunch, though not in the form of a bento, can also be prepared with the "USB attaka onigiri warmer brown," produced by Thanko Co. in Tokyo.
Measuring 8 centimeters long, 9.5 centimeters wide and 5 centimeters deep, its main unit fits one onigiri rice ball. With a built-in heater, the device is designed to warm up onigiri bought at convenience stores in about 30 minutes via a USB that is plugged into the port of a computer.
The device allows users to enjoy a hot lunch even if a microwave is not available. The heating system can also be plugged into the cigarette lighter socket of vehicles, which can be particularly useful for people who are often out on business.
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