Photo= "Ninja Bento" in commemoration of the operation of the train with wrap advertising train on JR Kusatsu Line (Nanyoken Inc., Oiwake 1-chome, Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture)

A boxed lunch company based in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture, started selling "Ninja Bento," or ninja boxed lunch, on February 25, to celebrate the beginning of the operation of a train with wrap advertising of ninja illustrations on the JR Kusatsu line.

The Ninja Bento are being sold by Nanyoken Inc., a boxed lunch maker and seller based in Oiwake 1-chome, Kusatsu City. The boxed lunch includes rice balls wrapped with ninja-star-shaped dried laver, "Ebi-mame," a local dish, and a Japanese-style rolled omelet branded with the Chinese character meaning ninja, among other foods. It also contains "Ugaba Mochi," a famous confection produced by the same company.

The train with wrap advertising, "SHINOBI-TRAIN," has been planned by a project team promoting utilization of the Kusatsu line, which consists of governments of Shiga Prefecture, municipalities along the line, Iga City in Mie Prefecture, as well as other organizations. The train was introduced to the public on February 25, and will continue operating for two years. Nanyoken Inc. says, "We hope passengers will enjoy the boxed lunch along with the train trip."

Ninja Bentos are sold for 950 yen at stalls in Kusatsu Station.