Bento is a popular combination of products that make up a meal in Japan. A bento is usually said to be a breakfast that can be bought packed to go in a box such as Japanese konbini. Each compartment contains ingredients such as rice (boiled or fried), baked fish and vegetables. The Japanese take them to work or on various trips. Other items such as eggs, tofu or onigiri may also be included in the breakfast.

Boxes for storing ingredients come in different sizes. They are tailored to people's specific needs, e.g. larger for physically working people and smaller for children (e.g. for a second breakfast at school). Importantly, bento is not just a way of packaging and combining products. Cooks also ensure that the contents of the packaging attract customers. This is why they take care of proper decoration, i.e. arranging the ingredients and decorating them.