This non-fiction text by McPherson Tanaka Naemi is about bento – what types of bento there are, when the food culture around it emerged and how the discussions around it are also socially linked.
This was very interesting to read! The reflections on social issues around bento were particularly interesting for me and I was glad that points like gender roles and income inequality were also considered in the text.
Although the text looks like a casual non-fiction book judging by the cover and title, I feel I have to point out that it is an argumentative text. As such it makes extensive use of N4 vocabulary, which can be challenging to new readers.
I would recommend this text therefore for readers who already have upper N4 reading abilities or those who are preparing for the JLPT N4 this summer and appreciate the challenge.
You can read this text here:
http://www17408ui.sakura.ne.jp/tatsum/project/Yomimono/Yomimono-ippai/yomimono/PDF_level_2/Character_bento_with_rubi_Level2.pdf
Length: 4 pages
dokushoclub.com 