A bento box (弁当, bentō) is a single-portion take-out or home-packed meal of Japanese origin.  Outside Japan, it is common in Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean cuisines, as well as in Southeast Asian cuisines where rice is the main staple food.  A traditional bento may contain rice or noodles, often with pickled and cooked vegetables in a box.  Containers range from mass-produced disposables to hand-crafted lacquerware.   Japanese homemakers often spend time and energy on carefully prepared box lunches for their spouses, children, or themselves.