The ekiben introduced here is a “Reprinted Bento” with a fun reprint of a Showa-era design on the wrapping paper. This bento is made by Matsuura Shoten, a company that produces many Nagoya-meshi ekiben, and is sold mainly at Nagoya Station, but this time we purchased it at Numazu Station.
Although the wrapping paper is unique, the contents of the bento is a very orthodox makunouchi bento. It is a very substantial lunch box with a modest lineup: white rice with pickled plums in the center, simmered dishes (burdock root, bamboo shoots, shiitake mushroom, chicken), grilled mackerel, fried white fish, egg roll, stir-fried beef, fish paste, hijiki stew, kidney beans, and pickled cherry blossoms.
The grilled mackerel and simmered dishes are not too rich, and the flavors of the ingredients can be enjoyed one by one. The beef is sukiyaki-style, the egg roll is slightly sweet, and the kurimame is a very sweet dessert. Overall, the dish is Japanese style, so considering the balance of flavors, the fried white fish goes well with soy sauce (in fact, only soy sauce is included in the package).
It is a parade of standard side dishes, nothing fancy, but all of them are delicious, and it is like eating a set meal with many small side dishes.
When the author chooses an ekiben, he tries to choose one with a local flavor, so until now he has not often chosen a makunouchi bento.
This time, too, I expected to find a seafood bento boxed lunch box, which is typical of Numazu, a fishing port, but perhaps because it was late in the evening, all such bento boxes were sold out. This is a common occurrence at conventional train stations that are not large terminals. However, I was satisfied with the “Reprinted Bento” as I felt I was able to have a decent meal.
The design of the paper used for the boxed lunch we purchased was a reprint of one used from 1968 to 1972, depicting a C11 class steam locomotive.
Although the C11 class made its debut in 1932, it was a model that was manufactured for a long period of time, and many of its units are still in existence. It is still in operation, preserved in parks around Japan, and transformed into Thomas the Tank Engine, so it is a steam locomotive that is often encountered in various places today.
The locomotive on display in front of JR Shimbashi Station, which is familiar to people in the Kanto region through TV street interviews, is also this C11 class.
The hanging paper also states “100 Years of Train Series (13). In other words, it seems that 12 different trains have appeared so far, and there may be more to come. It is a little bit exciting.
© Source travel watch