Jun 11, 2025

Stacked for Summer: Bento in Bamboo

Written by Team MUSUBI

Bring the joy of an open-air lunch to your dining table this summer. Patterned and streamlined, bamboo bento boxes offer a fresh way to serve warm-weather meals. Their airy weave and natural finish become the starting point for a clean, seasonal look. Pair them with glass bowls and bright ceramics to keep the mood crisp and unfussy.

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Setting the Table Around a Summer Bento Details That Pull the Setting Together Featured Items

Setting the Table Around a Summer Bento

There’s a lightness to the table that feels just right for the season.

The setting begins with the Two-Sided Half Moon Hegi-me Placemat. Its gentle curve and straight front edge frame each setting with precision, neither too formal nor too loose.

Bento boxes from Nanpu Kougei sit at the center of each placemat. These handwoven pieces blend form with practical depth, holding rice, a main dish, and sides without needing extra layers.

It’s the variety that makes it fun. With each weave offering its own look and feel, the table feels dynamic without trying too hard. The Yotsume Weave Bamboo Bento Box, with its airy lattice, is light and summery—open enough to catch the eye.

The Ajiro Weave Bamboo Bento Box, woven in a subtle herringbone, brings texture and structure.

The Woven Bamboo Bento Box L is the most understated and the largest of the three—smooth, compact, and just right for keeping things simple.

For shared dishes, we brought out the Tortoise-Shell Patterned Bamboo Strainer. The hexagonal weave gives tempura room to breathe while preserving its crisp edges. A pair of Yamachiku Bamboo Serving Chopsticks rests at its edge, light in the hand and easy to use, making it simple (and sanitary) for everyone to serve themselves.

A medley of cut fruit brings a splash of color to the table. Set in the Taisho Roman Sakura Bowl, the vibrant hues pick up the soft lines of frosted designs on glass. Pieces from Hirota Glass catch the light and lend a quiet shimmer, rooted in craft but perfectly at home in a modern setting.

Details That Pull the Setting Together

Part of the charm of Japanese tableware is just how many well-designed pieces exist to help shape a setting. Not everything needs to stand out, but when each item serves its purpose, the whole table feels put together.

A Kutani ware sauce plate at each setting holds a pinch of matcha salt for the tempura—the kind of detail that keeps the crunch light and tasty.

To bring in a cooler note, we chose celadon teaware. The Nabeshima Celadon Japanese Teapot and teacup from Kosen Kiln have a soft, almost translucent green glaze that pairs easily with other pieces.

A few details do more than serve—they bring a bit of delight. The Goldfish Paper Fan Chopstick Rest and Kutani Colors Chopsticks offer a splash of color and an easy seasonal accent.

Pick up a bamboo piece as your go-to item for the season—and unlock a whole bundle of ideas for easy, beautiful summer meals.

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Nanpu Kougei

Nanpu Kougei is a maker of bamboo crafts based in Hiji Town, Oita Prefecture—a place of lush greenery and stretches of coastline. The company carries forward the region’s deep connection to this traditional material through time-honored techniques, as it aims to establish Oita as a leading name in Japan’s bamboo industry.

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