“Men are like wine. Some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.” – Pope John XXIII
MY friends, I had bento for lunch at my second grandson’s birthday party yesterday.
Yes, Kenji turned one on January 24, 2026, and my son, Tzen, and his wife, Amelia, threw a party for their son at a Japanese restaurant at Rock Road in Kuching.
A year ago, my son and his wife surprised me and my sisters when they named the baby ‘Kenji’. I later learnt that Kenji was a popular Japanese male name meaning “strong/healthy second son”, “wise second son” or “wise ruler”.
Earlier on, I had chosen the baby’s Chinese name with the help of a friend who was well versed in Chinese tradition but I don’t know who helped my son and his wife with their son’s Japanese name.
At one, Kenji is still breastfeeding and has not learnt to walk yet. He is a serious baby who rarely smiles. If I call him, he will just stare at me with his big eyes. Maybe he is curious and trying to recognise me.
I like bento and I’m happy that Tzen and Amelia decided to host Kenji’s birthday party at a Japanese restaurant. I know my daughter-in-law loves Japanese food.
For your information, bento is a single-portion take-out or home-packed meal of Japanese origin, often for lunch. It typically includes rice packaged in a box with a lid (often a segmented box with different parts of the meal placed in different sections).
A traditional bento typically includes rice or noodles with fish or other meat, pickled and cooked vegetables in a box.
Bento, originally developed in Japan for workers and travellers, has become globally available in nearly every city due to the global spread of Japanese food culture and the meal’s alignment with modern, health-conscious lifestyles.
In Japan, bentos are available in many places including convenience stores, bento shops, railway stations and department stores. Japanese housewives often spend time on carefully prepared bento for their spouses, children or themselves.
In Kuching, you can buy bentos from Japanese restaurants like Oishi Japanese Restaurant or through delivery services.
I think it is good to have bento for birthdays or any celebrations. Pre-portioned and packaged, bento makes serving easy for parties.
Days before yesterday’s party, Amelia sent me pictures of the different types of bento available at the restaurant. I opted for Sushi & Tsuki Bento (California roll, mix sushi salad, chuka wakame and fresh orange).
When I asked her what the other guests ordered, she replied, ‘Mostly chicken bentos.”
I also learnt that Amelia and my son had invited Madam Lim, one of Amelia’s paternal aunts (her father’s younger sister), to celebrate her birthday with Kenji at the same party. Yes, she shares the same birth date as their baby.
At first, they thought she was alone and had no one to celebrate her birthday with her.
But yesterday, I was surprised to see her only child, a son, and his wife at the party also. It seemed that the couple had suddenly decided to take leave from their work in Singapore to celebrate their mother’s/mother-in-law’s birthday with her.
Besides the individual bentos, Tzen and Amelai also ordered some side dishes – Fried Salmon Skins, Fried Salmon Bell, Salmon Uramaki and Ebi Avocado Maki – for sharing.
Guests at the party were mostly Amelia’s relatives from her father’s side. They included her parents, her elder sister, Lydia, and her husband and three children who were still in primary school.
After everyone had finished eating their bentos and the side dishes, it was time for the cakes to be cut and served.
My grandson, Kenji, and Madam Lim had their own individual birthday cakes. Madam Lim’s cake was pink while Kenji had a fondant dragon cake topper on top of his blue cake.
Birthday songs in English were sung before the candles were blown out. Kenji’s elder brother, Raidon, 5, wanted everyone to sing “Happy Birthday” in Bahasa Malaysia. I think he had learnt the song in his kindergarten class. But his request was ignored because most of us only knew how to sing “Happy Birthday” in English.
And who blew the one and only candle on Kenji’s cake? His mother.
Amelia and Lydia took lots of lovely photographs which they later shared with us.
“This Kenji… Japanese name, Japanese food for birthday,” remarked Amelia as she sent me one particular picture.
I’m thankful I could attend Kenji’s first birthday party. I’m sure those of us present at the party including Kenji will treasure these birthday photographs for a long time. Such photographs are special because they serve as a curated, annual record of personal growth and evolution, freezing fleeting moments of joy and celebration in time.
I thank my son and daughter-in-law for holding the party early yesterday afternoon.
“We want you to be around. We know you have to work at night,” Amelia explained to me.
Besides giving Kenji an ‘angpow’ (red packet containing cash), I also gave one to Amelia. I only learnt recently that Amelia was born on January 15. She had celebrated it quietly with my son.
Like Kenji and Amelia, my elder sister, Ah Moi, and my youngest sister, Ah Lan, were also born in January.
I wish all of them “Happy birthday and a fantastic year ahead”.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at adelinel888@gmail.com.
