MANILA, Philippines - What started as an effort to make kids eat their lunches has become a serious art form.

Charaben (a shortened form of "character bento," also called kyaraben) is a style of arranging and decorating packed meals to look like characters from cartoons, comic books and video games.

Most charaben were initially made by mothers who want to make their kids' meals look more appetizing. But as years passed, kids and adults alike started to ride on the charaben trend.

Now, contests are often held in Japan to determine the best designs, which are usually themed -- from Spring season to Sanrio characters.

"There are several contests for kyaraben artists and their entries are quite imaginative and most importantly, edible," reported Weird News Asia, a website devoted to unique stories from East Asia, which includes Japan.

Not just in Japan

Although initially a uniquely Japanese practice, making charaben -- or bento in general -- has also become increasingly popular in the United States.

The New York Times, for one, earlier reported that sales of boxes, egg molds, rice shapers and plastic skewers -- things commonly used in preparing charaben -- have been growing in the US.

"It (bento) is approaching cult status in the United States," The New York Times reported. (Read story here.)

Of course, Filipinos won't let themselves be left behind.

Two years ago, the country had its first National Bento Competition at Shangri-La Plaza mall, an event that was sponsored by the Japan Foundation.

Getting serious

Here's someone who's serious about charaben --Christopher Salyers wrote a book that gives tribute to the Japanese food preparation method, as well as the people who are deeply passionate about it.

Titled Face Food: The Visual Creativity of Japanese Bento Boxes, the book touches on how food -- from hot dogs to fish cakes -- can be magically turned into cartoon characters and comic book heroes.

Salyers' book pays tribute to the art of making charaben. Credit: Mark Batty Publisher

"There is something marvelous and enchanting in charaben, a something we should all look to find within ourselves -- a convalescence of youth," Salyers wrote.

He added, "For all of you who have ever eaten or prepared a slap-dash PB&J sandwich, or have been victim of school cafeterias, I offer up these pages as proof that when you show this much dedication to what you or your child eats, the end result will be nothing short of astounding."

Salyers has also compiled recipes from different charaben makers -- and even some of his own -- in a book aptly titled Face Food Recipes.

To date, he runs a blog that works as "an online, ever-expanding companion" to his works.

Dry run

We at abs-cbnNEWS.com tried our hand at making charaben, and it was a fulfilling and stress-relieving task.

Below are some of our works, inspired by animals and anime characters:

Creator: Rosy Mina Theme: Centipede, lunch Ingredients: Rice, Hungarian sausage, boiled string beans and floral marshmallows

Creator: Leilani Chavez Theme: Spring season, lunch Ingredients: Boiled egg, fried hot dogs, cucumber and carrot strips, boiled potato marbles, floral marshmallows and fish-shaped biscuits

Creator: Karen Flores Theme: Kon of Bleach (manga/anime), breakfast Ingredients: Toast (white bread), butter, cheese bread, barbecue dip, dried seaweed, cereal and raisins

So, will you start making your charaben today?

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E-mail the author at karen_flores@abs-cbn.com.