_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.

There's been a resurgence in the popularity of magewappa ware, so it's made around the country, but this box comes from Akita, where I think the craftsmanship is still the best.

Hey, a new series! Every week on or around Wednesday, I'll be featuring a bento box or bento accessory that has caught my eye for some reason. I'll try to stick to items that can be ordered online as much as possible, unless it's something truly exceptional.

Important notice: This bento box can be selected as your prize in the Menu for Hope drawing!