About this season
Bento, or lunchbox, is a fun slice of Japanese food culture that more people around the world are sharing. Healthy and delicious foods are beautifully and creatively presented. This NHK series features demonstrations and advice by Japanese bento experts, as well as shares some of the bento pictures and videos sent in by viewers worldwide.
Episodes (20)
1. Chirashi-zushi Peacock Bento & Glass Noodle Lion Bento
Aired 28 April 2023 • 15 min
Today: animal-themed bentos. From Maki, glass noodles form the mane of an adorable lion. From Marc, an elegant peacock bento with lots of veggies. From Singapore, a bento featuring Indian paratha.
2. Lemon-marinated Shrimp Bento & Lemon Chirashi-zushi Bento
Aired 12 May 2023 • 15 min
Today: a special episode focusing on Hiroshima Prefecture. We meet local bento makers from West Africa, Malaysia, Vietnam and more. Marc and Maki make dishes with a Hiroshima specialty: lemon.
3. Onigiri Bento
Aired 26 May 2023 • 15 min
Today: a beginner-friendly onigiri bento. Marc shares tips and guidance on how to make onigiri, or rice balls. From Misaki in Kanagawa Prefecture, a bento featuring a variety of tuna dishes.
4. Tamagoyaki Bento
Aired 9 June 2023 • 15 min
Today: a beginner-friendly tamagoyaki bento. Marc shares tips and guidance on how to make tamagoyaki, or rolled omelets. From Yanagawa in Fukuoka Prefecture, a bento featuring freshwater eel.
5. Scallion Oil Chicken Bento & Salmon Piccata Bento
Aired 23 June 2023 • 15 min
Today: Maki and Marc make bentos using just one pan. Marc prepares scallion oil and crispy chicken. Maki makes a salmon piccata and bacon rolls. From the Philippines, a bento featuring coconut.
6. Katsu Curry Bento & Currywurst Bento
Aired 7 July 2023 • 15 min
Today: appetite-boosting curry bentos. Marc prepares a bento of katsu curry. Maki makes a bento using currywurst sausages. From Yui in Shizuoka Prefecture, bentos featuring sakura shrimp.
7. Vegan Shogayaki Bento & Japanese-style Tuna Pasta Bento
Aired 28 July 2023 • 15 min
Today: bentos made with pantry staples. Marc prepares a soy meat shogayaki. Maki uses cans of tuna and corn to make a Japanese-style pasta. From South Korea, a market's unique bento cafe.
8. Rainbow Soboro Bento & Green Veggies and Chicken Sandwich Bento
Aired 11 August 2023 • 15 min
Today: colorful bentos. Marc prepares a colorful soboro bento. Maki makes a sandwich bento with lots of veggies. From Daigo in Ibaraki Prefecture, a bento featuring a local variety of chicken, Okukuji shamo.
9. Salt-cured Salmon (Shiozake) Bento
Aired 8 September 2023 • 15 min
Today: a beginner-friendly shiozake bento. Marc shares tips and guidance on how to prepare shiozake, or salt-cured salmon. From Hong Kong, a bento featuring a local favorite: XO sauce.
10. Chicken Kara-age Bento
Aired 22 September 2023 • 15 min
Today: a beginner-friendly chicken kara-age bento. Marc shares tips and guidance on how to make chicken kara-age, a type of fried chicken. From Niigata Prefecture, a bento featuring a variety of fresh seafood.
11. Acorn Onigiri Bento & Japanese-style Baguette Sandwich Bento
Aired 6 October 2023 • 15 min
Today: bentos perfect for autumn picnics. Marc prepares onigiri shaped like acorns. Maki makes sandwiches with acorn decorations. From Yoshino in Nara Prefecture, a bento of sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves.
12. Mushroom Rice Bento & Wrap and Roll Sushi Bento
Aired 20 October 2023 • 15 min
Marc makes a fragrant autumn rice bento with lots of mushrooms. Maki rolls up a cute and colorful sushi bento. From Omori in Tokyo, a bento featuring nori, or sheets of dried seaweed.
13. Miso-glazed Pork Bento & Sweet Potato Korokke Bento
Aired 3 November 2023 • 15 min
Today: a special episode focusing on Saitama Prefecture. We meet local bento makers from Indonesia and the US. Marc and Maki make dishes with Saitama specialties: sweet potatoes and miso-glazed pork.
14. Salmon Rice Bento & Rice Burger Bento
Aired 17 November 2023 • 15 min
Today, rice takes a starring role. Marc cooks rice and salmon in a single pot. Maki makes a rice burger with barbecued beef. From Kyoto Prefecture, an autumn bento featuring matsutake mushrooms.
15. Miso Ramen Bento & Tonjiru (Pork Miso Soup) Bento
Aired 8 December 2023 • 15 min
Today: tasty soup bentos with chef Ariga Kaoru. Together, our chefs whip up a variety of soup bentos featuring miso. We learn how to make a hearty pork miso soup, a miso ramen soup, and more.
16. Datemaki & Matsukazeyaki
Aired 22 December 2023 • 15 min
Today, Marc and Maki team up to make a tiered bento to celebrate the new year. It's full of auspicious dishes! From Melbourne, a sandwich bento made with love.
17. Salmon Pita Bento & Good Luck Chicken Katsu Bento
Aired 19 January 2024 • 15 min
Today: bentos to support students studying for entrance exams. Maki makes a lucky chicken katsu bento. Marc makes a salmon pita that can be eaten with one hand. From Kitakyushu, a chicken rice bento.
18. Peanut Fried Rice Bento & Peanut Tsukune Chicken Bento
Aired 2 February 2024 • 15 min
Today: a special episode focusing on Chiba Prefecture, located near Tokyo. We meet local bento makers from Pakistan, Vietnam and Italy. Maki and Marc make bentos using peanuts, a Chiba specialty.
19. Quick Omurice Bento & 10-minute Hamburg Bento
Aired 1 March 2024 • 15 min
Today: bentos that can be made in just ten minutes. Maki makes a quick and easy Hamburg bento. Marc makes a fluffy and creamy omelet over ketchup rice. From Taiwan, delicious vegetarian bentos.
20. Spring Blossom Chirashi-sushi Bento & Maki-maki Flower Bento
Aired 15 March 2024 • 15 min
Today: a look at some popular bentos posted to our website. Maki and Marc make gorgeous spring-themed bentos. From Shizuoka Prefecture's Izu Peninsula, a bento that features the best of both land and sea.