Japanese Mothers and Obentos

1. The obento

1.1. Comforts a child

1.2. Reflects a committed mother

1.3. Requires precision, balance, and aesthetics

1.3.1. Prep time is form of ideological control by state over mothers to proper citizens

1.4. Are highly intricate to indicate dedication by the mother

2. Japanese Food Culture

2.1. Presentation is more important that taste

2.1.1. It reflects the meaning and effort by the person who prepared the meal

2.2. Container is just as important as the food

2.2.1. Reiterating how presentation is key

3. Mothers

3.1. Her obentos reflect her as a mother

3.1.1. Relates to our western culture; if a mother packs a lunchable people may criticize her for not trying harder

3.2. She is responsible for creating a proper, obedient child

3.3. Her obento helps child as he/she moves into the potentially threatening outside world

3.3.1. Provides comfort during transition

4. The children

4.1. School is designed to shape children into proper gender role

4.2. Not actually interested in presentation of obentos

4.2.1. It is the culture as a whole that enforces presentation

4.3. No more obentos after 1st grade

4.3.1. Teaches that learning is hard work with few pleasures

5. Personal Thoughts

5.1. Food culture is similar to western

5.1.1. More effort equates to better mother

5.2. This food culture makes for a stereotypical women in the kitchen picture

5.2.1. She is pressured into appearing as a good mother by making intricate obentos; how is the father judged?