What’s in the Box?
We are continually developing ideas into reality
It’s not about the box or about the food.
It’s about transforming ideas into tangible, visual expressions.
Bento Box Studios is a group of creative enthusiasts who love to explore ideas in various mediums and techniques. As imaginative designers, they help ideas become realities in the form of tangible products and crafted items. Growing up in Southern California’s surf, skate and car culture, their work is also influenced by their Japanese American heritage, which has roots in California and Hawaii before reaching back to Japan.
For years, we designed for the masses.
Products engineered for efficiency, speed, scale.
But something in us longed for more.
More presence. More soul. More… imperfection.
So we stepped away from the factory floor and back to the workbench.
One piece at a time.
Still rooted in function. Still faithful to form.
But no longer chasing scale or margins—just meaning.
This is where precision meets presence.
This is crafting design, made human again.
Mon or Kamon?
Mon are Japanese crests or emblems, often associated with clans or establishments, that are black and white designs usually set in a circular arrangement.
Kamon, are crests specifically associated to clans, and are analagous to the European coats of arms.
Family Identities
We work with a Shodō ((書道, Japanese Calligraphy) artist to complement our desire to bring authentic, hand crafted items to life. We don’t ignore technology or tools that help express our work, but we are always conscientious of the sensitivity the human eye and hand can bring to a project.
Introducing the uBu box.
Everyday life can blur into a week then a month or more. We designed the uBu box to be a personal vessel/vehicle to inspire you in your daily life.
uBu origin story
We started designing a portable/traveling butsudan. A butsudan is a buddhist altar for homes. As designs often do, the design began to morph. It grew in size and some of the design details were not ideal for a traveling/pocket butsudan. it has become, not “SO MUCH MORE” but it has become the u·B·u box.
Collaboration
It’s about the human experience. A genuine and soulful approach to working together to create things. Where human touch carries its intentionality with flaws, yet is still beautiful.
Curiosity.
We are obsessed to keep our minds active by always asking questions and searching for answers. It helps us create an awareness that allows us to recognize new ideas that are presented in our daily lives. Without curiosity, our minds would not be prepared to recognize them. We are in constant awe at the ultimate designer/artist, Nature. We believe there is a distinct correlation between curiosity and creativity.
-
Culture is not solely an ethnicity, but the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social groups . It is also the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization.
-
We are all connected in some fashion. Some spiritually, others philosophically. Some physically, and others through some common activities. Interdependence is all around us. Creative mediums have a way of bringing out interesting stories, tidbits, and experiences into visual forms that connect our past to the present and can point us to the future.
-
A community is a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society. Creativity can bring many people together when there’s relevance and connection. We strive to bring ideas to life to bring the community together.
-
As a noun, craft is an occupation, trade, or activity requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill. As a verb, it is to make or produce with care, skill, or ingenuity. Through many industries and personal experiences and time, we’ve developed our hands and minds to be able to reproduce items in the form of art, products, and other mediums.
MEET OUR STUDIOS
F-Moto
Bebostu
Musubi Station
Natto Kaze
GALLERY
BLOG
