makunouchi
{{short description|Type of bento box for Japanese meal}}
{{Italic title}}
{{for multi|the protagonist of Fighting Spirit (Hajime no Ippo)|Ippo Makunouchi|the top division in sumo|Makuuchi}}
{{Refimprove|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Makunouchi
| image = Makunouchi bento of Origin Bento.jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption = A makunouchi bento
| course = Main
| main_ingredient = Rice, umeboshi, fish, meat, tsukemono
}}
{{Nihongo|Makunouchi|幕の内弁当}} is a popular type of Japanese bento which consists of mostly rice along with fish, meat, pickles, eggs, vegetables, and an umeboshi (a salt pickled plum). There are also other kinds of food such as a chestnut-rice, sweetfish sushi, and meat-and-rice-casserole forms.
Etymology
The word makuno-uchi bentō ("between-act bento"), dates back to the Edo period (1603 to 1867), when they were sold to theatre-goers during the intermissions ({{lang|ja|幕間}}) of Noh and Kabuki theater performances.
From the Meiji period onward, makunouchi has become a common convention for bento boxes called ekiben sold at train stations.{{cite news |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2003/01/05/general/japans-own-meals-on-wheels/|title=Japan's own meals on wheels|author= Yoko Hani |work=The Japan Times |date=January 5, 2003 }} Convenience stores also sell a bento under the makunouchi name. Though the selection and number of items in a makunouchi bento vary from store to store, it often contains more items and costs more than other bento.
Gallery
See also
References
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