When Japan's railway system was managed by Japan National Railways (JNR), 'Ekiben' containing typical side dishes such as cooked rice, a broiled fish, meat dishes, deep-fried foods, a Japanese style omelet and kamaboko (steamed fish paste), namely a box lunch similar to Makunouchi-bento (box lunch including cooked rice and side dishes), was called "a normal box lunch," while other types of 'Ekiben' was called "a special box lunch."
日本国有鉄道（国鉄）時代には、白飯と焼き魚・肉料理・フライ・卵焼き・蒲鉾などの一般的な惣菜を使用した、いわゆる幕の内弁当の系列のものを普通弁当と称し、それ以外の弁当を特殊弁当と称している。