These lacquered menpa, or lunch containers, have been made and used for a long time in Ikawa, a mountainous area in Aoi Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture. In this remote area, menpa were an essential item used daily. To make the Ikawa menpa, craftsmen sew wide strips of wild cherry bark together and coat the surface and joints with lacquer. This makes them durable and able to withstand years of use. Even if they become worn, they can be renewed by repainting the lacquer. Eating from a menpa has a charm that cannot be experienced with aluminum lunch boxes. Furthermore, rice packed in an Ikawa menpa stays warm in winter and does not spoil in summer.