Welcome to the Nihongo Lesson feature. We strive to give you useful manga-based Japanese language tips and maybe even a glimpse into the translation process. This week’s lesson will once again focus on some popular Japanese foods that often appear in manga. Learn about these yummy foods and never go hungry again!

BENTO (べんとう)

A BENTO is a delicious lunch box often full of a variety of foods. A traditional BENTO is usually filled with rice, fish or meat and pickled or cooked vegetables. But BENTO comes in all shapes and sizes. You can get a no-frills version for cheap at a convenience store or a mega luxurious one like what Marika created for her dearest Raku in Nisekoi. 

There are even themed BENTO with the food made to look like cute animals or even manga characters. Where’s my Toriko BENTO? On second thought, it doesn’t feel right to eat poor Komatsu’s face...

ODEN (おでん)

ODEN is a Japanese winter dish that I would describe as a sort of stew. It contains tons of ingredients like eggs, veggies and fish cakes cooked for many hours in a soy broth. It is often sold at food carts and convenience stores. ODEN sounds like a great meal on a chilly day to ward off a cold. 

And that seems to be how it was presented in a recent chapter of Gakkyu Hotei: School Judgment. When his client was feeling sick, Abaku brought him some ODEN to raise his spirits. And it almost worked!

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Click HERE for last week's Nihongo Lesson—Brain Foods #1!