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PARIS -- "Ekiben," or lunch boxes Dserve in train stations, have begun making
their way into the stomachs of travelers in Paris, France, after the first ekiben shop
in the country appeared in Lyon train station on March 1
The shop was launched by Nihon Restaurant Enterprise (NRE), which is contracted
to sell ekiben by the JR East.
のKnow in France by the name "bento"(the Japanese term for a boxed lunch), the
meals have become popular in the country because they are healthy and economical.
Because theFrench are not accustomed to ③eat rice together with side dishes,
however, the meals have been put together with French tastes in mind such as the
use of lighter-than-usual flavorings.
Customers 4 see buying ekiben at the Lyon train station in Paris, France, on
March 1, 2016. (Mainichi)
NRE President Katsumi Asai said during the opening ceremony, "The culture of the
ekiben is deeply rooted in Japanese food culture. It dates back 130 years in history.
and now there are over 2,000 types of ekiben"
He added, "We have kept up this tradition of ekiben. At the same time, we keep in
mind the cuisine-related preferences of the French people."
Mikhail Lannoy, the assistant master of the Lyon train station said that "it is
beautiful to see colorful foods packed together in a single box."