🎎 This golden aluminum lunch tin once served a simple but vital purpose in the life of a Japanese schoolchild: to carry the rice portion of their daily lunch. Before rice became a standard part of school-provided meals, children brought these small han-gō (飯缶) from home. At the start of the day, teachers collected them and placed them in a shared oven. When lunchtime arrived, the warm tins were returned, accompanied by side dishes provided by the school. It was a small but meaningful system of care, community, and nourishment.
This particular tin features a bold gold finish and a charming illustration of a baseball player mid-pitch—a design likely to have sparked childhood dreams during lunch breaks. The surface shows wear and age from regular use, but the structure is sound, and the image remains striking. A maker’s mark is impressed into the base, adding another layer of authenticity. A delightful relic of the mid-to-late Showa era (昭和, c. 1960s–1980s), it carries the spirit of Japan’s evolving postwar school lunch culture.
📏 Approximate dimensions
• Length: 13.2 cm
• Width: 9.6 cm
• Depth: 3.5 cm
• Weight: 60 g
• Material: Lightweight aluminum with printed design
• Era: Mid to late Showa period (昭和, approx. 1960s–80s)
• Condition: Good used condition; minor marks and wear from daily use
Curated in Shizuoka City by Kurt Bell, this little school rice tin is a quiet tribute to everyday routines, childhood wonder, and the thoughtful simplicity of Japanese design.
➡️ https://a.co/d/6SORY8N Get your copy of Going Alone at this link (the hardcover edition is recommended) 🤠🏜️☀️
🌐 Website: https://goingalone.org
📧 Email: dinnerbytheriver@gmail.com
🌀 Discord: https://discord.gg/srfDtMN5jA
👍 Support my endeavors on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/softypapa
Be safe… But not too safe
#KurtBell #GoingAlone #JapanAntiqueRoadshow #VintageJapan #JapaneseLunchbox #昭和レトロ #BentoBox #JapaneseSchoolLife #softypapa