what's a bento box?

Leave it to the Japanese to come up with cute stuff!

I never spent a thought on what a bento box was... readily assuming that it was some Asian take out in a box. I recently felt dumb founded when I learned that bento boxes are cutely arranged lunches in boxes.
I came across an article which led to a wonderful selection of photos of KYARABEN - Bento very elaborately arranged in a style typically decorated to look like people, animals or characters and items such as flowers and plants. Contests are often held where bento arrangers compete for the most aesthetically pleasing arrangements. Here's to playing with food!

...my personal favorite: the mummy... mmm!

There are similar forms of boxed lunches in the Philippines (Baon), Korea (Dosirak), Taiwan (Biandang), and India (Tiffin).