This time, we are sharing another vegan deco ben from Mami-okusama. How adorable—a little squirrel happily clutching an acorn! Adjacent to Masaaki-sama’s official residence is a small grove, and whenever the family catches sight of squirrels scurrying about outside the window, everyone gathers to enjoy the heartwarming sight of them. Mami-okusama had been hoping to one day feature those sweet little squirrels in a bento. That sweet little curled tail. “Maybe I could make that using kogomi (fiddlehead).” Mami-okusama said that from the moment the idea came to her, she couldn’t contain her excitement. Although she was unsure whether it would really look like a squirrel to the children, she carefully shaped each part, believing they would love it. The result is the bento you see here. What a heartwarming story! The children were absolutely delighted when they saw the bento, exclaiming, “It was so cute and yummy!” ☺ The teacher also shared a glimpse of the classroom with Mami-okusama: “Your bentos are always so adorable and look so delicious. The other children all peek over and say, ‘How cute!’” ✨ The teacher also commented, “Mikoto-kun really eats a lot! That’s wonderful!” Mami-okusama said it reminded her of attending a preschool observation day, where she was surprised to see how many parents were having trouble getting their children to eat. Upon hearing this story, I could not help but feel that the Christian Veganism established and advocated by Masaaki-sama is truly the only salvation for the many families facing the challenges of raising children. May we, too, follow Mami-okusama’s example, even in a small way, and devote ourselves to spreading and practicing Christian Veganism. 【Bento contents received from Mami-okusama】＊30 percent polished rice cooked in a clay pot (250g) 🍚· Wakame and bamboo shoot riceWakatakeni—simmered bamboo shoots and wakame seaweed—made with bamboo shoots and wakame received as offerings from members (a dish previously shared on Facebook.To those members, thank you very much.Mixed into the rice, they create a luxurious taste of spring.A favorite of the children, who always ask for seconds. Packed generously into the bento. · The squirrelShaped into a little squirrel, with its facial features created using nori. Its cheeks are decorated with homemade pickled plums matured for three years. The curly tail is made from kogomi ohitashi (fiddlehead lightly seasoned in broth), and it’s holding an acorn made from bamboo shoots and wood ear mushrooms. ＊Miso soupIn addition to seasonal vegetables and wild greens, I always include seaweed as well. ＊Three exquisite kinds of oyaki (traditional Japanese stuffed dumplings)Simple oyaki made with all-purpose flour, water, and salt.One variety includes yomogi (Japanese mugwort)—the young shoots are carefully prepared by removing their bitterness, then finely chopped and ground into a paste with a mortar and pestle.Fillings:· Stir-fried wood ear mushrooms and bamboo shoots· Homemade kombu tsukudani (simmered kelp)· Simmered hijiki seaweed and carrotsWith every bite, a gentle natural sweetness spreads. ＊Carrot kinpira (a stir-fried dish seasoned with soy sauce and mirin)Hijiki seaweed is added for a gentle, comforting flavor.Finished with freshly toasted sesame seeds for a rich aroma. ＊Okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake)A recipe previously shared with you on Instagram.One of the children’s favorites. ＊Other detailsA side of steamed cabbage is added to bring a soft, natural touch of color. Let this little squirrel warm your heart ✨ Mami-okusama’s super cute vegan bento, no. 48Likes, saves, and shares are most welcome♪ ***About Mami-okusama (Mami Okada)Mami-okusama was born in Aichi Prefecture and was raised in a farming household. Also known as Japan’s Vegan Beauty, she is the wife of and Aide to Masaaki-sama (Masaaki Okada), World Church of Messiah’s Representative of Kyoshu. She is a vegan recipe developer focusing on the Japanese vegan diet. She is the first to establish the “vegan deco ben” (vegan decorative bento) and “vegan kyara ben” (vegan character bento) genres. Not only are they beautiful to the eye, these bento are created entirely from plant-based ingredients, in line with what Masaaki-sama teaches on the truth of food, that seasonal and local eating rooted in the climate and terrain of Japan is the most beneficial for health and well-being, that is, to eat what grows in one’s local region. Through these and also through the creation of her many original recipes, she seeks to spread the Christian vegan diet—the true healthy diet. She graduated from University of Tsukuba. During her studies there, 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-sama, the great-grandson of the founder of World Church of Messiah, Meishu-sama (Mokichi Okada 1882–1955), and the representative and successor of Kyoshu-sama. On May 24, 2026, on the day of Pentecost, she assumed the position of Aide to the Representative of Kyoshu. Currently, while raising three children, she is working tirelessly unlike anyone else in the practice and spread of the Christian vegan diet as taught in Masaaki-sama’s revolutionary message: “Jesus Christ was the last and ultimate sacrifice—so it is no longer necessary to eat a diet that comes with the suffering of animals.”