Where does “キャラ弁” come from?

キャラ弁 (Japanese) comes from Japanese キャラクター, from English character, from Middle English caracter, from Old French caractere, from Latin character, from Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ, from Ancient Greek χαράσσω, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- — to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines.

キャラ弁 (Japanese): Kyaraben, a style of elaborately arranged bento (Japanese boxed lunch) which features food decorated to look like people, characters from popular media, animals, and plants

Definitions

  1. Kyaraben, a style of elaborately arranged bento (Japanese boxed lunch) which features food decorated to look like people, characters from popular media, animals, and plants

Ancestry of “キャラ弁”, step by step

キャラ弁 traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Japanese キャラクター

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Japaneseキャラクターcharacter, a fictitious person or creature
2EnglishcharacterA being involved in the action of a story; A...
3Middle Englishcaracter
4Old Frenchcaracteremark; sign; indication
5Latincharacterbranding iron; brand; characteristic, mark,...
6Ancient Greekχαρακτήρinstrument used for engraving; person who...
7Ancient Greekχαράσσωto sharpen; to engrave, carve, write, draw, stamp
8Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰer-to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines

via Japanese 弁当

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Japanese弁当food brought on the go
2Japanese面筒
3Middle Chinese
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer-Every word from Ancient Greek χαράσσωEvery word from Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ