Ekiben: The Art Of The Japanese Box Lunch

by Gideon Bosker, Mamoru Watanabe, Junichi Kamekura

Shows and describes the contents of a variety of Japanese-style box lunches and discusses their background.

Over 150 full-color photographs of lunches in their containers, each accompanied by its name, the train station where it is sold, and notes on special design and culinary features.

Genres: Food, Japan

118 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1989

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just think...each train stop specializes in a different box lunch! Fun and informative look at Japanese boxed lunches eaten by countless commuters every workday. Would love to just stop by and try all the different boxes along the way - Bento Express Tours of Japan - all aboard to yummy tummy town!

[Jason Keenan · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING. AVOID IF HUNGRY. I was lucky enough to come across Ekiben: The Art of the Japanese Box Lunch in a used bookstore back in 2013. It was in the window and it drew me in. Though the style and design looks brand new it was published in 1989.

My wife assures me - between exclamations that we need to eat one of the ekiben - that despite the years the ekiben remain the same. It’s one of the great things about Japan – no matter how much change rolls on, some key things always stay the same.

The book is a pictorial look at the railway lunch or bento boxes one can pick up at train stations across Japan. It's fast food. But it's gourmet food too. Try not to eat the pages.

More info on ekiben: http://justbento.com/handbook/bento-c...

[Yue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an photobook with the most appealing bentos. One more beautiful and mouthwatering than the other. An advice: not read it with an empty stomach.

I wish it was longer. It is outdated since it was printed in the late '80s but I don't think they have changed much.

[Avis Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorite culinary books. Not really any text, just really big photos of ekiben. Ekiben are like jewel boxes, and you can just sit and admire them for their design. Someone else ought to do another book like this.

[Togaakennedy]

I really enjoyed this book and thought it fascinating food history. The calendar aspect is simply a gimmick you don't need. It's a lot of fun looking up some of the more obscure dishes, too.