At the start of the new year, I received a photo from Mami-okusama and experienced a shock like being struck by lightning, just like all of you reading this now. I was left speechless. This bento box easily transcends the realm of lunch boxes. It is a work of art. Mami-okusama’s latest bento is designed with a horse, the zodiac animal for 2026. This bento that Masaaki-sama’s family enjoyed at the start of the new year is a masterpiece of beauty constructed with astonishing purity. The overwhelming compositional beauty, elegance, cuteness, and splendor come together as one in harmony! Intricate checkered patterns can be seen in the four corners of the bento box. Could this be sweet potato and pumpkin? The checkered pattern, which is reminiscent of a colorful stone pavement, is like an intricate craftwork or mosaic art. The checkered pattern symbolizes prosperity and eternity. Fan-shaped vegetables, which symbolize expanding fortune, and beautiful flower-shaped vegetables are arranged in orderly fashion with color and rhythm, presenting auspicious New Year patterns everywhere you look. This work of art goes far beyond the realm of a mere cute bento, and I cannot help but feel the dignity of the New Year celebration through it. And the overwhelming cuteness of the little horse in the center! Those adorable eyes, they draw you in like a magnet, making it impossible not to stare. Also, take a look at the horse’s bangs—amazingly, they are made with wakame seaweed. Mami-okusama said, “I made use of the wavy shape of wakame seaweed and styled it to look like the horse’s bangs.” That inspiration is simply dazzling. Homemade mentsuyu sauce (Japanese noodle sauce) was used to make the pale brown face, freshly roasted sesame seeds to make the nose, and nori seaweed and homemade pickled plum to make the facial expression. No words of admiration can begin to do it justice. How deeply must Mami-okusama have dialogued and connected with this zodiac horse? This gentle, charming expression is truly that of a living being. According to Mami-okusama, all the ingredients forming these elements were cooked in a clay pot. There’s one more thing I must tell you about this masterpiece, and it is about the part that is not visible. Mami-okusama revealed, “Underneath, there is a generous layer of 30 percent polished rice cooked in a clay pot.” Even though we can’t see all of it, rice is still the star! Deeply flavorful rice carefully cooked in a clay pot is there at the foundation. The essence of the diet of the world of Miroku—that grains, that is, rice, is the main component—is embodied even in this vegan year of the horse bento! Poured into the part that is not visible is the deep love that Mami-okusama has for Masaaki-sama and the children. We members of World Church of Messiah, who were allowed to come in touch with such precious love at the year’s beginning, will start this year full of happiness and vitality! Thank you so much, Mami-okusama. A national treasure level creation! Mami-okusama’s super cute vegan bento, no. 8Likes, saves, and shares are most welcome✨ ---About Mami-okusama (Mami Okada)She was born in Aichi Prefecture and grew up in a farming household. She is also known as “Japan’s vegan beauty.” During her studies at University of Tsukuba, she became actively involved in volunteer activities such as refugee support. She was also repeatedly asked to participate in the “Miss Tsukuba” contest and was approached by many modeling agencies, but she declined all of these offers as she wanted to focus on refugee support activities. In recognition of her efforts in refugee support, she received the “University of Tsukuba President’s Award” in 2012. She holds a license to teach English to intermediate and high school students. After graduating from university, she began working for World Church of Messiah in 2013. In 2014, she married Masaaki Okada (Masaaki-sama), the great-grandson of the founder of World Church of Messiah, Mokichi Okada (Meishu-sama 1882-1955), and the representative and successor of Kyoshu-sama. Currently, while raising three children, she is single-mindedly walking the path of God, including working more energetically unlike anyone else on the Sacred Word of the founder, “In the world of Miroku, humanity will follow a vegan diet,” which was resurrected in our day by Masaaki-sama. She currently resides in Atami City.