There’s a new social phenomenon in Japan right now, as single males embrace the art of making beautiful and healthy bento lunches to bring to work rather than eating out every day. It’s called bento danshi, or “boxed lunch boys,” and it’s an idea being pushed by a popular website that encourages males to trade information and recipes on making their own bento lunches. A big part of the motivation is economic, as recession-strapped Japanese salarymen look for ways to save money, and since a bento lunch can easily be made for less than half what lunch at a restaurant would cost, single males at Japanese companies are forming support groups to help them make their own boxed lunches. A similar phenomenon is suito danshi, or “thermos boys,” who bring a thermos full of iced tea so they don’t need to buy canned drinks and can save that money. Incidentally, J-List has a large selection of bento boxes for guys who are looking for a less-kawaii bento experience. Why not browse them now?
