There seem to be more and more bento related contests these days, but the annual contest held by the longtime JustBento friends Bento&co is still one of the biggest in terms of great prizes and number of outstanding entries. This year the grand prize is a 6 day trip to Kyoto, including airfare if you live outside of Japan! That's a prize worth flexing your creative bento muscles for. Besides the Grand Prize winners, 20 finalists will receive various bento-related items as prizes. The theme this year is different too: it's Pasta Bento. Be sure to read all the rules, and I wish you all good luck! I will not be participating as a judge this year....so who knows, maybe I'll enter too ^_^ (Alas I am ineligible...I'll have to pay my own way to Kyoto, sniff.)

• Link: Bento&co 2013 International Bento Contest