The Japanese Club was formed to unite the Japanese students of the school and to introduce Japanese culture to people who are interested in it. The club is a very tight-knit group of friends who eat lunch with each other every day inside the Student Union. One of their traditions is to bring a boxed lunch to school, known in Japan as bento. El Estoque interviewed five students in the club to explore their fascinating bento.

Junior Hidetoshi Yoshimura
El Estoque: Why do you bring bento to school?
Hidetoshi Yoshimura: Because it is a tradition in Japan.
EE: What is your favorite food and why?
HY: I like sweet Japanese-styled curry. I like it because it’s yummy and nutritious.
EE: What would you do if you forgot your bento at home?
HY: I will probably go back to my house or ask my parents to drop it off for me.

Sophomore Ginga Sato
El Estoque: Why do you bring bento to school?
Ginga Sato: First of all, I don’t have to line up in a big line. Also, [bento] is healthier.
EE: What is your favorite food and why?
GS: I like salmon with rice, because salmon is one of my favorite fish. I only get to eat it once or twice a month, so eating salmon for lunch is something special for me.
EE: What would you do if you forgot your bento at home?
GS: I will just probably not eat lunch. I have a free seventh period, so I will just have to endure one hour except for Wednesdays. If it’s just one hour, I won’t have the motivation to use up my lunch period waiting in line to buy food.

Sophomore Takumi Inoue
El Estoque: Why do you bring bento to school?
Takumi Inoue: I’m too lazy to wait in line and buy lunch.
EE: What is your favorite food and why?
TI: My favorite food is strawberry, because it is juicy. I also like sushi too.
EE: What would you do if you forgot your bento at home?
TI: My parents will drop it off for me.

Sophomore Taiki Iijima
El Estoque: Why do you bring bento to school?
Taiki Iijima: I don’t want to spend money.
EE: What is your favorite food and why?
TI: I like sushi because I am Japanese and I like Japanese food.
EE: What would you do if you forgot your bento at home?
TI: If I forget my bento, I wouldn’t eat school lunch but steal my friend’s food.

Junior Hayato Izumiya
El Estoque: Why do you bring bento to school?
Hayato Izumiya: Because it’s easier to eat and it’s faster [than buying lunch].
EE: What is your favorite food and why?
HI: My favorite food is hamburger because it has good taste and flavor.
EE: What would you do if you forgot your bento at home?
HI: I won’t eat school lunch, and I probably won’t eat anything.

NOTE:
A majority of answers are translated from Japanese to English. Most interviewees were more comfortable speaking Japanese.