The “Chicken Rice Bento” sold at Takasaki Station is a long-running bestseller that has been on the market since 1934 (Showa 9). Takasaki Bento (Takaben), the company that manufactures and sells it, is a time-honored establishment that traces its origins to 1884 (Meiji 17), when it began selling rice balls following the opening of Takasaki Station. It’s truly remarkable that, 142 years after its founding, the “Chicken Rice Bento” has been on the market for 92 years.
When you open the package—whose design evokes that sense of history—you’ll find cold chicken and teriyaki chicken, with its deliciously browned skin, sitting atop a bed of minced chicken packed tightly into the box. When you think of chicken ekiben, Fukuoka’s famous Kashiwa-meshi comes to mind, but the previous owner of Takaben—the company that invented the chicken rice bento—was originally from Kyushu. Since Kashiwa-meshi has been around since the Edo period, its roots may actually lie in that area.
The sweet chicken mince pairs perfectly with the lightly seasoned brown rice cooked with soy sauce. The two slices of cold chicken on top have a rich chicken flavor, while the teriyaki chicken—which looks like it would be rich—is surprisingly light. True to the product name, you can enjoy three different types of chicken, each with its own distinct flavor.
The side dish that resembles a hamburger steak is a chicken meatball with maitake mushrooms. These hearty, densely packed meatballs have a rich, bold flavor. I wish the maitake flavor came through a bit more, but they’re still very delicious. The cute pink red konjac has a subtle sweetness. The bright yellow candied chestnuts are extremely sweet. The wasabi-flavored Nozawa-na pickles may have a bold name, but they actually have a quite mild flavor. The large, crispy pickled plums have a distinct tartness that really adds a nice accent to the dish.
When it comes to Takasaki’s famous ekiben, the “Daruma Bento” has long been a staple. This is also a Takaben product—a long-running ekiben that’s been around for 66 years—but let’s go back another 26 years from there. The “Chicken Rice Bento,” which dates back to before the war, may not be particularly flashy overall, but its gentle flavor—loved by many for 92 long years—truly demonstrates the staying power of a long-running bestseller.
© Source travel watch