Make lunch-making more fun with a partition

For your first steps into bento-making, try the wappa lunch box you've always wanted. Easy to care for and usable worry-free every day—the wappa from Odate Kogeisha.

Packing in as much as you like of the things you love, to enjoy outside the home—that's what bento is all about. Many people own several lunch boxes depending on what they're packing or their mood that day, but we'd love for you to add a "magewappa (bent-wood) bento box" to your options.

This time, we'll talk about the appeal of the coveted magewappa bento boxes from Odate Kogeisha, while also answering the question, "But how practical are they, really?"

What's so great about a wappa lunch box?

1. White rice tastes delicious

First and foremost, no discussion of the appeal of magewappa bento boxes is complete without mentioning "white rice." As a devoted user, I'd love for anyone who's a rice lover to try a magewappa bento box.

The magewappa boxes from Odate Kogeisha are made from Akita cedar, and because the wood absorbs the rice's moisture almost as if breathing, you won't find the edges soggy with condensation the way you would with a plastic lunch box or tupperware. It keeps the rice's moisture and slight chewiness at just the right balance. The rice stays delicious even once it's cooled.

2. The wood has a wonderful scent

Another wonderful thing about wappa is the scent of wood when you open the lid. You might think any scent at mealtime would interfere with the smell of the food, and that this would be a drawback—but the scent of wood is different.

*For ease of use, Odate Kogeisha's magewappa bento boxes are finished with urethane coating, so when new, you may notice that scent as well—but it fades gradually with use.

3. Lightweight yet durable

A wappa lunch box is lighter than it looks, making it easier to carry than one made of aluminum or enamel. And it's remarkably sturdy. Odate Kogeisha has even received repair requests for lunch boxes used for 30 years—proof that with proper care, these boxes can last a very long time.

4. The antibacterial properties of Akita cedar

Since bento is made ahead of time and eaten later, it's reassuring to know that Akita cedar naturally resists bacterial growth. Of course, don't forget to pack an ice pack alongside your bento during the rainy season and midsummer.

5. A form that reveals the craftsman's handiwork—one that even feels beautiful

▲Yagura wappa bento box

Finally, we want to mention its "beauty." Various types of magemono (bent-wood ware) exist across Japan, but among them, only the Odate magewappa from Akita has been designated a traditional craft of Japan. Its form—shaped by the hands of craftsmen who have passed down their skills through time—is moving to behold.

It's a tool meant for daily use, and yet there's something about it that makes you want to simply admire it too—that's the curious charm of magewappa.

Now that going into the office has returned, how should you use magewappa at school or work?

As the world begins to return to how it was before, going back into the office has meant more opportunities to make bento. Bento-making can easily become just another daily chore, but somehow, having a magewappa makes both preparing and packing the bento—and lunchtime itself—something to look forward to.

Monday's bento, prepared on Sunday, recreates the signature dish from a delicious set-meal restaurant discovered over the weekend

Koban wappa bento box, small

On a leisurely Sunday, make something a bit more elaborate for the gloomy Monday ahead. This bento recreates the mentaiko rice dish from Fukuoka that impressed me over the weekend. Bring vegetable soup in a thermos jar, and it's perfect. It's simple enough that you could probably make it on weekdays too.

Maruni two-tier wappa bento box

In recent years, more and more shops have started offering takeout, bringing a new kind of fun, exciting bento that wasn't around before. This one recreates an inari sushi packed with generous fillings that was featured in a high-end mail-order catalog. There aren't many flavors involved, but topping it with my favorite ikura and shake flakes made it satisfying. Vinegared rice resists spoiling and tastes good even cold, so it's surprisingly well-suited to bento—but its scent and flavor can transfer to other food, making it tricky to pack. With a two-tier box like this, you can prevent the vinegar's aroma from seeping into the other side dishes.

Buy just the side dishes as takeout, and bring the rice from home

Cedar is also used for ohitsu (rice tubs), and it's likewise ideal for a magewappa carrying rice deliciously. For example, one option is to buy just the side dishes from a convenience store or supermarket and bring plain white rice from home. Many people became more health-conscious during the years spent at home, and one of the nice things about bento life is that beyond plain white rice, you can also choose healthier options like brown rice, five-grain rice, or hijiki rice.

Choose by shape, size, or capacity—our magewappa bento box lineup is growing.

To mark this feature, we've expanded our lineup of magewappa bento boxes from Odate Kogeisha. Are you a single-tier person who likes to pack everything tightly in, or a two-tier person who wants plenty of capacity?

Koban wappa bento box: small, medium, and large

Size

Small: width 18 × depth 11 × height 5 (cm), capacity 490cc

Medium: width 18.8 × depth 12 × height 5.8 (cm), capacity 640cc

Large: Width 20.5×Depth 13×Height 6(cm)・Capacity 750cc

When you hear "wappa bento box," this oval shape is probably the first image that comes to mind. It's surprisingly easy to fill with rice and side dishes, so if you're undecided about shape, we recommend starting with this classic style.

Whether you separate the rice and side dishes or use it as a single-bowl donburi-style meal, the oval koban-shaped wappa bento box always looks great.

The item in the image below is that same oval koban wappa bento box, finished with fuki-urushi (wiped lacquer) treatment—the "Koban Wappa Bento Box Fuki-urushi."

This one also comes in small and medium sizes.

Applying fuki-urushi increases durability, making the box even sturdier and longer-lasting. It also takes on a deep brown, subdued tone, giving it a calm, refined impression. This reflects the maker's care not only for beauty but also for durability and long-term use. As the lacquer on a fuki-urushi wappa bento box gradually thins over time, it can be re-coated. Through repeated use and repair, it becomes something you grow more attached to and cherish even more.

Maru Nidan Wappa Bento Box

※The cross-shaped divider is a limited-quantity item and will end once stock runs out.

Size: Diameter approx. 11.5×Height approx. 9(cm)

Capacity: Upper tier 360cc, Lower tier 360cc (Total: approx. 720cc)

This is a bento box made of round magewappa (bentwood) stacked into two tiers. It can be used as a two-tier box or with just one tier and the lid attached. The round, cute shape has a certain nostalgic feel, reminiscent of outings and picnics.

▲Convenient for keeping side dishes and rice separate

Baika Wappa Bento Box

Size: Width approx. 12.5×Depth 12.5×Height 9.3(cm) (when stacked in two tiers)

Capacity: Upper tier: approx. 350cc Lower tier: approx. 450cc (Total: approx. 800cc)

This wappa is shaped like a plum blossom, with a beautiful pentagonal form and smooth curves. Despite its distinctive shape, the gentle corners actually make it surprisingly easy to arrange side dishes neatly, leaning them against the curves.

Yagura Wappa Bento Box

Size: Width approx. 20×Depth 9.5×Height 9.5(cm) (when stacked in two tiers)

Capacity: Upper tier: 360cc Lower tier: 580cc (Total: approx. 940cc)

The "Yagura Wappa Bento Box" is a slender koban-shaped box with two tiers of different sizes stacked together. It holds quite a generous amount, making it a satisfying size even for men or students.

▲Here, the lower tier is filled with ketchup rice. Whether it's fried chicken or Napolitan pasta, you can freely add oily dishes to your bento without worry.

A key feature of the Yagura Wappa Bento Box is that the upper and lower tiers nest together for storage. This makes it convenient and space-saving when carrying it home after eating or storing it at home. Being narrower than other koban-shaped boxes, it also fits more easily into bags, making it perfect for everyday bento use.

Thoughtful design for everyday ease of use: the magewappa bento boxes from Odate Kogeisha.

As wonderful as magewappa is, don't you sometimes feel a bit hesitant about how to handle it? With wooden items, there's a worry that you shouldn't let them soak up water, and that mold might form.

With unfinished wappa, it's true that you might hesitate—worrying about which side dishes to put in, or needing to dry it completely—but Odate Kogeisha's wappa are intentionally finished with urethane coating for everyday use, so there's no need for such concerns. While preserving the good qualities of magewappa, the design takes everyday usability into account, making it truly "a magewappa bento box you can use every day."

▲Koban Wappa Bento Box

Here, let's answer some of the questions that first-time magewappa users often have, like "Is this really okay?"

Q1. "Can I put any kind of side dish in it? Won't it stain?"

Yes—since Odate Kogeisha's magewappa bento boxes are urethane-coated, they resist staining even from oily foods, so you can fill them with a wide variety of side dishes.

▲Koban Wappa Bento Box Fuki-urushi

You can easily toss in leftovers from last night's dinner without worrying, which makes preparing a bento much easier. However, since the box isn't airtight, it's not suited for dishes with a lot of liquid, as they may leak.

Q2. "Is it okay to fill it in the morning, eat it at lunch, and not wash it until evening?"

For those who work, there's often worry about leaving the box unwashed for many hours after filling it in the morning until washing it at night—but with Odate Kogeisha's magewappa bento box, this isn't a problem. Of course, it's always better to wash it as soon as possible, and we recommend washing it right after you get home, but it's reassuring to know you don't need to be overly cautious. Since it's a magewappa bento box that works even for working people, it's suitable for office workers as well as students who come home late from part-time jobs or club activities.

Q3. "How should I wash it? What should I be careful about when caring for it?"

If rice or other food is stuck on, soak it briefly in water, then scrub it with regular dish soap and a sponge.

You can't use a dishwasher or dryer, but there's no need to be overly careful about how you wash or handle it. Just give it a quick wipe after washing and set it on a dish rack or cloth, and it'll be ready to use again the very next day without needing a rest.

This is the oval magewappa (bentwood) bento box from Odate Kogeisha that a staff member has been using with love for 12 years.

It was dropped from a cupboard once, so part of the lid is chipped, but otherwise there's no deterioration or staining to speak of. The wood surface has darkened over time, clearly showing how long it's been used with care. What's surprising is that even after all these years, the wonderful scent of akita sugi (Akita cedar) still lingers.