If Japan wanted a sure sweep of every medal in an event, they ought to promote the making of school lunches as an Olympic sport. Not only do Japanese moms slave away making not one, not two, but three or four different dishes to include every day, elementary school lunches are essential equipment in the midday tournament of cuteness.
Most mothers only have to make o-bento three days a week – the school provides lunches on the other two, in order to introduce nutritious foods children don’t like, as part of their education – but even the most creative can run out of ideas.
Character & Deco magazine to the rescue!
You’re shaking your head in disbelief, right? You’re thinking that only Martha Stewart on steroids would produce lunches like the ones on the cover of this magazine. WRONG-O! Recently I had lunch with my friend Mizuki, and she sent me a few pictures of bentos made by her and her friends for their preschoolers. Check out these creations, all made by random ordinary moms:
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Would you like to be whisked away to Japan, wherever you are?
“The Samurai’s Octopus…is a truly remarkable book, one that surprised and charmed me at every turn of the page. You’re in for a treat.”
—James Ziskin, Anthony, Barry, and Macavity Award-winning author of the Ellie Stone mysteries
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Only In Japan 
why doesn’t someone make ME lunches like that
I’m waiting for someone to make one for meeeee too!
oh oh oh, these are wonderful.
these bentos are delicious as much as they are cute honestly i do not see myself preparing these every morning
You and me both! One of the many reasons women are a bit reluctant to have kids these days…(><)