To people living in Japan:
This is a silly question, but I am really curious... You must have noticed that the Japanese bento almost always has a red/reddish pickled plum (umeboshi) on top of the (white) rice. Is that supposed to look like the hinomaru? I just saw a cooking program on a Japanese channel and the reporter made a comment that suggested this.
2006-08-14 01:32:18 · 3 answers · asked by dalia 3 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
I don't see them called that lately maybe because of right wingers but a few years back the bento with white rice and a umeboshi in the middle were named a "Hinomaru Bento".
Found this on Wikipedia!!
Hinomaru bento (日の丸) was the name for a bento consisting of plain white rice with an umeboshi in the centre. The Hinomaru bento takes its name from the Hinomaru, the Japanese flag, which has a white background with a red circle in the centre. These bento were common in during the second World War, both because of the scarcity of food and the desire to and necessity of avoiding displays of excess while maintaining an image of stout patriotism.
2006-08-14 05:24:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yea. Maybe and maybe not.
If you buy Obento, we see Umeboshi on rice often. But I don't usually remember the flag.
http://www.ichimonjiya.jp/all_bento/i0251.jpg
Today, Mommy make colorful obento for their kids.
http://www.masamin.jp/media/1/20051028-bento_20051027.jpg
http://www.k2.dion.ne.jp/~rosemama/LOVELOG_IMG/200509204bf9cf83.jpg
2006-08-14 04:48:34 · answer #2 · answered by Joriental 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mmm, I want a bento box for lunch now...
2006-08-14 01:34:36 · answer #3 · answered by volchick2003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋