お弁当 (おべんとう - obentou) - Bento

お弁当 is another of Japan's better known exports, having made the journey from its humble roots all the way into dictionaries and foodcourts across the world. It's thought that the word "弁当" comes from an old Chinese word meaning "something convenient", but these days it refers to a bought or home-cooked box lunch; what probably springs to mind for most people is the ubiquitous multi-sectioned plastic tray. In one form or another though, お弁当 has been around for hundreds of years and people have been tucking into countless different varieties since the 15th century. Let's pop the lid and see how the world's oldest lunchbox has evolved over the years.

ゲームセンター (geemu sentaa) - Game centres

You don't have to go far to realise gaming is a big part of the melting pot of Japanese pop culture - it's where a lot of アニメ (anime), music and soon-to-be national obsessions cut their teeth. ゲームセンター or what we might call "arcades" may have a limited appeal at home but here they're for people of all ages. Some come for the cuteness, some are after more collectibles to hoard and others just have a high score or boss to beat. From prize games to sticker photos to things that can't even be categorised, there's something for everyone here - let's get ourselves some change and join the fun.