One of the most iconic and resilient of these traditions is the humble bento box — a simple packed lunch ... believed to have begun as a way to pack portable meals for warriors.

Bento, Box-ed: 🥢The term "bento" is believed to ... Japanese workers began carrying dried rice called hoshi-ii as a portable meal. 🥢The Edo period (1603-1868) saw the rise of makunouchi ...

Ellen said that the bento box dates back to Japan's Kamakura period between 1185 and 1333 "as a simple, portable meal for warriors." The bento box has evolved into a quick way to get a diverse ...