Starting your bento life with the magewappa lunch box you've always wanted.

Easy to care for and made for everyday use: magewappa from Odate Kogeisha.

A bento packed with exactly what you love, as much as you like, and enjoyed away from home. Many people keep a few lunch boxes on hand to suit the food or their mood that day. We hope you'll add a magewappa bento box to that lineup.

In this article, we share what makes Odate Kogeisha's magewappa bento boxes so special, and answer some of the questions people often have before trying one.

What makes a wappa bento box so good?

1. White rice tastes better

No conversation about magewappa bento boxes is complete without mentioning white rice. Speaking as a longtime user, if you're a rice lover, this is the lunch box we'd most like you to try.

Odate Kogeisha makes its magewappa from Akita cedar, and the wood absorbs moisture from the rice almost as if it were breathing. Unlike rice packed in plastic lunch boxes or storage containers, it doesn't turn soggy at the edges by lunchtime. The rice keeps just the right amount of moisture and its pleasantly chewy texture, so it stays delicious even after it cools.

2. The lovely scent of wood

The scent of wood that greets you when you open the lid is another quiet pleasure of wappa. Strong aromas at mealtime can compete with the food, but the gentle scent of wood is a different story.

*Odate Kogeisha's magewappa bento boxes are finished with a urethane coating for practicality. You may notice a slight smell from the coating at first, but it fades with use.

3. Light and durable

Wappa bento boxes are lighter than they look, which makes them easier to carry than aluminum or enamel. They're remarkably sturdy as well. Odate Kogeisha once received a repair request for a bento box that had been in use for 30 years. With proper use and care, one can stay with you for a very long time.

4. The natural antibacterial properties of Akita cedar

Since a bento is usually eaten some time after it's made, it's reassuring that Akita cedar naturally resists bacterial growth. That said, please don't forget to pack an ice pack from the rainy season through the height of summer.

5. A beautiful presence that reflects the craftsman's hand

▲Yagura Wappa Bento Box

Last but not least is its beauty. Bentwood vessels known as magemono are made all over Japan, yet Odate Magewappa from Akita is the only one designated as a national Traditional Craft. Its quiet presence carries the handwork of craftspeople who have passed their skills down through generations, and it can be genuinely moving.

It's an everyday tool we'd love for you to use daily, and yet there's something about magewappa that makes you want to simply admire it, too.

How to enjoy magewappa at work or school

Making lunch can easily become just another daily chore. Somehow, with a magewappa, both packing your bento and the lunch hour itself become something to look forward to.

Monday's bento, prepped on Sunday, inspired by the signature dish of a great little diner found over the weekend

Koban Wappa Bento Box, Small

On a relaxed Sunday, why not make something a little special to brighten a sluggish Monday? This one is modeled after a mentaiko rice box from Fukuoka that left a lasting impression over the weekend. Bring some vegetable soup in a thermos and lunch is complete. It's simple enough to make on weekdays as well.

Round Two-Tier Wappa Bento Box

Takeout shops and mail-order food services are full of bentos that spark ideas. This one recreates a generously filled inari sushi featured in a gourmet mail-order collection. There are fewer varieties here, but topped with favorites like salmon roe and flaked salmon, it's plenty satisfying. Vinegared rice keeps well and tastes good cold, which makes it surprisingly suited to bento, though its aroma and flavor can transfer to other foods, so packing it takes some thought. A two-tier box like this keeps the vinegar scent away from the other dishes.

Or pick up just the side dishes and bring the rice from home

Cedar is also used for ohitsu, the traditional wooden rice containers, and magewappa is ideal for carrying rice so it stays delicious. One option is to buy only side dishes at a convenience store or supermarket and bring your own rice from home. Beyond white rice, you can choose brown rice, multigrain rice, hijiki rice, or whatever suits a health-conscious meal. That freedom is one of the nice things about bringing your own lunch.

Choose by shape, size, and capacity: the magewappa bento box lineup.

Odate Kogeisha offers magewappa bento boxes in a range of shapes and sizes. Are you a single-tier person who likes to pack everything in snugly, or do you prefer the generous capacity of two tiers?

Koban Wappa Bento Box (Small / Medium / Large)

Size

Small: W18×D11×H5 (cm), capacity 490cc

Medium: W18.8×D12×H5.8 (cm), capacity 640cc

Large: W20.5×D13×H6 (cm), capacity 750cc

This oval shape is probably what most people picture when they think of a wappa bento box. It's surprisingly easy to fill with rice and side dishes, so if you're unsure which shape to choose, we recommend starting with this classic.

Whether you divide rice and side dishes or make a single rice bowl, the Koban Wappa Bento Box always looks the part.

Shown below is the same box finished with wiped lacquer: the "Koban Wappa Bento Box, Fuki-urushi."

It comes in two sizes, Small and Medium.

The fuki-urushi finish adds durability, so the box lasts even longer. Its deep brown tone gives it a calm, understated look. You can sense the maker's intention not only to create something beautiful, but something sturdy enough to be cherished for years. When the lacquer wears thin over time, it can be reapplied. Through cycles of use and repair, the box grows more familiar and more precious to you.

Round Two-Tier Wappa Bento Box

Size: approx. Diameter 11.5×H9 (cm)

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

A bento box made of two round magewappa tiers. The lid fits whether you use both tiers or just one. Its plump, rounded shape has a charm that brings to mind picnic lunches on an outing.

▲Handy for keeping side dishes and rice separate

MICHI Wappa Bento Box

Size: W20.5×D8.2×H5.3 (cm)

Capacity: 450cc

Colors: Vermilion, Black

A slender, single-tier oval wappa accented with a single clean line. The lid is cut at an angle along that line, giving the closed box a crisp, elegant look. At just 8.2cm deep, it slips easily into a bag for work or school.

Yagura Wappa Bento Box

Size: approx. W20×D9.5×H9.5 (cm) (when stacked)

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

The Yagura Wappa Bento Box stacks two slim oval tiers of different sizes. It holds a generous amount, so it's a satisfying size for those with a hearty appetite.

▲The lower tier holds ketchup rice. Fried chicken, spaghetti Napolitan, and other oily dishes can go in without a second thought.

A distinctive feature of the Yagura Wappa Bento Box is that the upper and lower tiers nest together. After lunch, it takes up less room in your bag, and it stores compactly at home. It's slimmer than the other oval boxes, so it fits easily into a bag, making it a great choice for everyday lunches.

Designed for easy daily use: Odate Kogeisha's magewappa bento boxes.

Magewappa is wonderful, but does it feel a little intimidating to care for? Wood shouldn't soak up water, and you might worry about mold.

With uncoated wappa, it's true that you need to be careful about what you pack and make sure it dries completely, which can make people hesitate. Odate Kogeisha's wappa, however, is intentionally finished with a urethane coating for everyday use, so there's no need for that worry. It keeps the qualities that make magewappa special while being designed to fit real daily life. In other words, it's a magewappa bento box you can use every day.

▲Koban Wappa Bento Box

Here, we answer a few common questions from people who are new to magewappa.

Q1. "Can I pack any kind of food? Will it stain?"

Yes. Odate Kogeisha's magewappa bento boxes have a urethane finish, so even oily foods are unlikely to leave stains, and you can pack a wide variety of dishes.

▲Koban Wappa Bento Box, Fuki-urushi

You can simply pop in leftovers from last night's dinner without worrying, which makes packing lunch easy. Keep in mind that the box isn't airtight, so foods with a lot of liquid may leak and aren't a good fit.

Q2. "Is it okay if I pack it in the morning, eat at noon, and can't wash it until evening?"

Some working people worry about leaving the box unwashed from morning until they get home at night. With Odate Kogeisha's magewappa bento boxes, that's not a problem. Washing it sooner is always better, and we do recommend washing it as soon as you get home, but there's no need to be overly cautious, which is a relief. It's a magewappa bento box that works with a busy schedule, whether you're an office worker or a student who gets home late after a part-time job or club activities.

Q3. "How should I wash it? Is there anything I should be careful about?"

If rice or food is stuck on, soak it in water for a little while first, then scrub it with regular dish soap and a sponge.

It isn't dishwasher or dryer safe, but otherwise there's no need to fuss over how you wash or handle it. After washing, give it a quick wipe and leave it in a dish rack or on a cloth. It's ready to use again the next day, no rest needed.

This is an Odate Kogeisha Koban Wappa Bento Box that one of our staff members has used for more than ten years.

A small chip on the lid came from a fall out of the cupboard, but otherwise there's no wear or staining. The wood has deepened in color, showing just how long it has been in use. What's surprising is that, after all these years, the pleasant scent of Akita cedar still lingers.