Kyaraben Charaben

I was surfing around when I chanced upon the Japanese phenomenon of 'Kyaraben'.

In short, 'Kyaraben' or 'Charaben' are portmanteaux. i.e. of the words 'Character Bento', where ingredients in a bento are used to form cartoon/anime/cute characters.

The Japanese have been obsessed with arranging their food for centuries. It is unsurprising that contemporary Japanese housewives are now doing it for their children and husband. It is said that these Kyarabens convey the mother/wife's messages of love and concern. E.g. A Kyaraben demonstrating cheers and sports flags may be made for the child on the school sports day.

You can watch this Youtube vid by a real Japanese housewife.
No laughing at her Japanese-accented English, please.

In another vid, I noted that the Japanese mother used a pair of tweezers to arrange the food. Now that's love for her kids. O_o

I've been discussing this phenomenon with my St Nicks friends, who are mothers, on Facebook.

My suggestion is the St Nicks ought to include Kyaraben-making in the Home Economics syllabus. Also there should be 'Kyaraben-making' Proficiency Badge for girl guides.

Scoring an 'A' in Kyaraben-making' ought to be viewed as having acquired a 'premium wifey' skill.

Just then, one of my friends kindly informed me that one does not have to start on Kyaraben-making only after marriage. That even Japanese girlfriends have begun to make Kyarabens for their boyfriends! *KNN! Spoil market!! Baka!*

In response, I told them I would be arranging Blinky and Tiger's cat food pellets tomorrow, probably in the form of "Eat your pellets. Mummy loves you!". I hope they will feel the love as they gobble their Blinkymummy-painstakingly-arranged breakfast.

Imaginary conversation with my imaginary kid:

Kid: Mummy! How come you don't make Kyarabens for me? They say Kyarabens are messages of love. The food you make for me looks... ugly... Does this mean you don't love me???!! 

Me: This means you need to go find a Japanese mother. I'm learning Korean, not Japanese, remember? However! On the other hand, your daddy speaks some Japanese and has ever dated a Japanese chick, perhaps he knows more about Kyarabens and could make them for you. =))

Alternatively, you may choose to adopt my St Nicks mate's simple suggested response:

"Dun eat nair mind. Go sleep."

See this vid on how to make a Google Chrome Kyaraben. The person even bothered to colour a boiled egg using purple cabbage juice. O_o""