Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) is once again taking on the challenge of breaking into the formidable Nagoya-meshi sector, where dishes popular in or unique to the city command a loyal following in the coveted "ekiben" (train station boxed lunch).
JR Tokai's strategy this time is nearly the same: to target health-conscious travelers with a low-calorie station "bento" packed with vegetables this fall. This time around, however, the meals will be augmented by chicken.
The railway hopes this change will prevent its fare from being clobbered again by the high-calorie ekiben offered by its competitors, including "miso katsu" (pork cutlet with miso sauce). The popularity of the heavier meals forced JR Tokai out of the market.