Koban Pine / Bento Kutusu

A cute rounded bento box. It excels in humidity control and makes rice tasty. Natural Japanese cedar, more than 150 years old, is used and it makes this box to a great thickness.
It will surely become a lunch box that will add color to your daily lunch time.

Width：16cm
Depth：12.3cm
Height：5cm
Weight：100g

Japanese cedar

E08

"I want to commit the customers' desire and offering what they want"

Many people think that "I want a bento box of bending bentwood, but it must be difficult to use and maintain." But in fact, it is not. Just by adding one more step to your usual washing process, you can enrich your daily life!

ARTISAN STORY

Eri Nakazawa / E08
In 2021, she left the magewappa workshop where she worked for 20 years to start her own business. Two women in Akita Prefecture are making strong and lovely Japanese bentwood craft. As a creator, she was committed to creating products together with users, valuing conversations with customers and giving shape to the thoughts and feelings I have felt in the course of my daily bento making process!

ACHIEVEMENTS

・Designated as a traditional craftsman in 2016

MAGEWAPPA / JAPANESE BENTWOOD CRAFT

About 400 years ago / 1600s / Edo Period (1603–1868)

Magewappa is made by softening thin strips of cedar or cypress in hot water, bending them into circles or ovals and fastening the joint, traditionally with cherry bark. In Odate, Akita, the industry expanded in the Edo period when the domain encouraged lower-ranking samurai to use abundant local Akita cedar for boxes and rice containers.

In Japan, magewappa lunch boxes have enjoyed a strong revival because the wood absorbs excess moisture and helps rice remain pleasant even after cooling. Their aroma and texture offer an alternative to plastic, and the boxes have become symbols of a more deliberate everyday lifestyle.

The walls can be surprisingly thin without splitting because straight-grained wood is carefully selected and softened with heat and water. Even the stitched-looking joint uses natural bark. The result combines lightness, breathability and repairability in an elegantly rational container.

Individual Differences

As each piece is individually handcrafted, slight variations in color, pattern, shape, and texture may occur. These subtle differences are a natural characteristic of handcrafted works, making each piece truly unique. We hope you will enjoy these individual variations as part of the beauty and character of Japanese craftsmanship.

Production Time

If an item is not currently in stock, it may be made to order by the artisan. As each piece is carefully handcrafted, production may take several months depending on the item and the artisan's schedule. We appreciate your patience and understanding.