The Japanese term for a packed meal in a box is bento. A bento is usually a single-serving meal arranged in a lidded container, often with separate sections for rice, meat or fish, pickles, and cooked vegetables.
Bento culture developed over centuries. Portable dried rice meals existed by Japan’s Kamakura period, while lacquered boxes became popular by the 16th century for hanami gatherings and tea events. During the Edo period, makunouchi bento became associated with eating between acts at Noh and kabuki performances.
Several related terms are more specific, not alternatives to bento itself. Ekiben means a bento sold at a railway station or on a train, while kyaraben describes food arranged to resemble anime, manga, or video-game characters. Obento is a polite form of the same word, and does not name a different dish. A bento may be homemade, bought from a convenience store, or served at a restaurant.