Makunouchi

The other day, when we were in Tokyo, we ate from a 'Makunouchi' bento box. Makunouchi is a popular and common type of Japanese bento which consists of fish, meat, eggs, pickles, and vegetables along with rice and an umeboshi.

I just wondered why this is called 'makunouchi'? This word was traced back to the Edo peirod (1603-1867). 'Maku' means act curtain, and 'uchi' means in, inside or between. So it means 'between-act bento' and was served during the intermissions of Japanese traditional play Kabuki and Noh performances.

Nowadays, you can buy a variety of bento boxed meals at convenience stores, supermarkets, department stores, lunchers, anywhere in Japan. Also many types of bento boxes called ekiben are sold on trains or train stations. They have regional characteristics. Many Japanese people enjoy eating ekiben during their train journeys, because ekiben provides you local food specialities as a part of travel. From my hometown Sendai, bento of Gyūtan which is made from grilled beef tongue is famous:)