Ben-To is a Japanese light novel series written by Asaura, with illustrations by Kaito Shibano. Shueisha published 15 novels from February 2008 to February 2014. Shibano also illustrates three manga adaptations, and a fourth manga is drawn by Sankaku Head. A 12-episode anime television series adaptation produced by David Production aired in Japan between October and December 2011. Funimation has licensed the anime in North America.
Plot
While innocently reaching for some half-priced bento, Yō Satō finds himself beaten up on the floor of a supermarket. He soon learns that getting half-priced bento is an all-out brawl between customers. Yō is invited to the Half-Priced Food Lovers Club by one of the top fighters, Sen Yarizui, in order to train to compete in these battles.
Bento brawls
Bento brawls are big, all-out, free for all battles for half-priced bento boxes, where victors are decided by who claims the bento first. The brawls are governed by a set of unspoken rules among the brawlers, mainly to keep each brawl fair and even.
Every brawler must wait away from the bento area until the God of Discounts, the ones who put the half-price sticker on the bento boxes, puts the sticker on the bento boxes and leave to the break room before beginning to battle. To take one beforehand and to harass the God of Discounts is disrespectful, as the last thing they need at the end of their shift are people harassing them for their discount.
If another brawler manages to get a bento for themselves, they cannot be attacked. If two or more brawlers get their hands on the same bento, then they fight among themselves until the other lets go of the bento.
A brawler can only take one bento, to take another would be greedy and would spoil the victory for another.
Brawlers should never do anything to cause a bento to spill, doing that would mean one less bento for someone to get.
Asides from that, whatever methods one can use in obtaining a bento can be used from simply brawling to using baskets and chopsticks as weapons, even running around avoiding fights altogether, are valid strategies. Sometimes brawlers fight in groups, such as the Half-Priced Food Lovers Club and the Orthros pair who will often fight with each other while going after separate bento or team up to take out a threat before brawling with each other. Those that fight for bento boxes are often known as "wolves". Inexperienced bento brawlers are considered "dogs", usually considered as such when they do not understand the essence of bento brawls and use tactics that are looked down upon. Those that go against the rules and will selfishly go after bento and harass the staff are known as "boars" and have no respect among brawlers. Bento brawlers will often do everything in their power to stop boars from obtaining bento, as they go against everything brawlers stand for, and thus do not deserve the bento. Strong and notable brawlers are often given titles, though how they get their titles is usually less than impressive.
Ben-To began as a light novel series written by Asaura, with illustrations by Kaito Shibano. Shueisha published 15 volumes between February 22, 2008 and February 25, 2014 under Shueisha's Super Dash Bunkoimprint; 12 comprise the main story, while the other three are short story collections. Other short stories were published online on Super Dash Bunko's official website and in Super Dash Manga Program, a separate volume included with Shueisha's Jump Square manga magazine.
Manga
A manga adaptation, illustrated by Kaito Shibano and titled Ben-To Zero: Road to Witch, serialized five chapters between the first issue of Super Dash Manga Program, included with the combined May/June 2011 issue of Jump Square sold on April 21, 2011, and the issue included with the October 2011 issue of Jump Square. A single tankōbon volume was released on October 25, 2011. Another manga, also illustrated by Shibano and titled Ben-To Another: Ripper's Night, was serialized between the December 2011 and October 2012 issues of Shueisha's Super Dash & Go! magazine. A single volume of Ben-To Another was released on October 25, 2012. A third manga illustrated by Shibano, titled Ben-To A La Carte, was serialized between the December 2012 and June 2013 issues of Super Dash & Go!. A single volume of Ben-To A La Carte was released on November 22, 2013. Another manga adaptation, illustrated by Sankaku Head and titled Ben-To Sankakkei, was serialized between the October 2012 and June 2013 issues of Super Dash & Go!.
Anime
A 12-episode anime television series adaptation produced by David Production and directed by Shin Itagaki aired in Japan between October 9, 2011 and December 25, 2011 on TV Aichi. The main opening theme is "Live for Life: Ōkamitachi no Yoru" by Aimi, while the ending theme is "Egao no Hōsoku" by Mariya Ise. The opening theme for episode four is "Treasure!" by Emiri Katō. The anime series is licensed and streamed by Funimation in North America.
Episode list
No.
Title
Original airdate
Reception
The Mainichi Shimbun reported that as of March 2011, over 550,000 copies of the light novels have been sold in Japan. The light novel series has ranked three times in Takarajimasha's light novel guide bookKono Light Novel ga Sugoi! published yearly: eighth in 2010, fifth in 2011, and third in 2012. Theron Martin of Anime News Network gave the series an overall A− rating. Despite finding some inconsistencies with the animation in places, Martin praised the series for its action scenes, soundtrack and humor, concluding that, "Watching Ben-To definitely will not strain your brain, and doesn't delve into themes any more complicated than the value of integrity, or fostering a passion for life. Regardless, it's a pretty fun little show." Aiden Foote, writing for THEM Anime Reviews, saw potential in the premise but found the fight scenes and humor lacking and gave way to characters ranging from obnoxious to pointless, saying that "Ultimately, my displeasure towards the show lies deeply in disappointment, not because it isn't great but that it's not even good. Without the stupid characters and the stupid humour, I might have been really able to enjoy this silly little series for all it was worth."
