In case you read Just Bento but not Just Hungry - I'm finally embarking on a project I've always intended to tackle, but never got around to: putting together a good listing of Japanese grocery stores around the world. I'll include bento supplies too, since many people who are interested in bento making are also interested in Japanese cooking, and vice versa.
If you have any stores, mailorder sources, and so on to recommend, please head on over here. With your help I'm hoping to assemble a really useful list!
_Magewappa_ means bent woodware; it's a traditional hand craft of Odate, which is located in Akita Prefecture in northern Japan. Straight grained pieces of Akita cedar are bent in circular shapes to form the sides of containers. The bent wood is then fastened with a contrasting dark bark or wood strips.