Ayako Narisawa

Japanese "Wappa"Bento A beautiful bento is not created simply by placing colorful foods in a box. The order in which the foods are packed helps everything stay neatly in place, while the choice of flavors, textures, and cooking methods determines how enjoyable the meal will be several hours later. Over the years, I have developed a simple method for packing a Japanese bento box. It begins with the rice and largest dish, then works gradually toward the smaller, more flexible foods that fill...

Opening a homemade bento is always a small moment of excitement. I have made and eaten more bento boxes than I can count. Yet even now, opening the lid of a Japanese bento box brings a special sense of excitement. What should I eat first? What might be hidden beneath the colorful side dishes? A slightly sweet tamagoyaki, or Japanese rolled omelet, meat-wrapped vegetables, and other familiar favorites—each dish brings back a memory. For school sports days or before an important exam, my mother...

Discover four traditional styles of Japanese cuisine shaped by samurai culture, the tea ceremony, sake gatherings, and Buddhist temple life.