
In 2019, Shin Tamura and Maya Matsumoto launched Obento in Arcata, driven by a shared vision to make authentic Japanese cuisine affordable and accessible. Their business has rapidly grown, distinguishing itself in the community by offering quality bento boxes and bowls to students, households, and businesses alike in northern Humboldt.
A bento box is a traditional Japanese meal designed for portability. It features a single serving arranged in a box with multiple compartments. The name "bento" derives from a Japanese slang term for "convenient," reflecting its practicality and aesthetic appeal. Bento boxes date back to the Kamakura period (1185–1333) in Japan, originally containing just dried rice that could be boiled. Today, these boxes are celebrated for their diverse flavors and unique designs, making them a popular choice for meals on the go.
Shin Tamura’s passion for Japanese food began in Fujioka, Japan, where he was born into the vibrant atmosphere of his father's restaurant. This experience gave him an appreciation for the art of Japanese cooking. After moving to California, he completed a degree in Biology at Humboldt State University in 2016. He holds over ten years of experience in the Japanese restaurant industry.
Maya Matsumoto's journey into the world of sushi began at just twelve years old, under the expert guidance of her grandmother. After spending time in Japan, she mastered sushi techniques passed down through her family. Reflecting on their shared inspiration, Maya said, "Shin had a lot of experience, his family-owned restaurants and I had been rolling sushi since I was 12. I also worked in quite a few restaurants here and back in my hometown, so we both had kitchen knowledge, and we knew how to make a lot of the dishes that we would want to serve."
Obento began its journey at the Foodworks Culinary Center, only offering delivery and pickup services. Maya recalled, "When we first started, people would have to order the day before, and I would deliver all of the bento boxes to people the following day." However, the pandemic shifted their operations, and after taking a break, they pivoted to nighttime service at Foodworks in late 2020.
With growing demand, they expanded into a second venue at the Depot at Cal Poly Humboldt and quickly became a favorite among university students and staff. They adapted their processes to streamline operations, Maya noted the learning curve involved: "When we first started there, we had six employees working there—that was exciting for us, just expanding in that way and then learning how to become more efficient."
Building on this success, Obento recently took over the space formerly known as Japhy’s at 1563 G Street in Northtown Arcata. This expansion, supported by North Edge Financing, has allowed them to refine their menu and enhance their operational capabilities. Maya emphasized, "It’s been really cool to be able to have people who’ve been eating from us for years, come into the new location and we get to see them, and there’s this moment of, oh my gosh, I know you, rather than serving them through a door at Foodworks!"
The partnership with North Edge Financing was instrumental in Obento’s latest growth phase. Maya shared, “Japhy’s wanted us to purchase all the equipment that was already in the restaurant. It was a pretty large number that they wanted, which we didn't have lying around…we knew we were going to need some money to do it the way we wanted to do it."
North Edge's support helped them cover initial expenses for the new location, allowing Shin and Maya to bring their vision to life without sacrificing their unique business model. “We explored different loan options, but North Edge stood out with reasonable interest rates and the flexibility to meet our needs. Plus, we heard good things about them from other local businesses, so they came recommended to us as well.”
Today, Obento continues to grow, blending the grab-and-go convenience of Japan's Family Mart with the focused simplicity of American-style eateries like In-N-Out. "We wanted to follow a similar approach, so instead of having a five-page menu, we kept it simple. Right now, we offer six bowls, six rolls, and a few appetizers. Keeping the menu focused allows us to maintain quality, keep prices affordable, and serve customers quickly without stretching ourselves too thin," Maya explained.
Looking ahead, Maya hinted at new offerings: "We’re working on bringing back our full bento boxes... and we’re also kind of work-shopping our sushi taco, one of our popular items." North Edge Financing proudly supports Obento’s journey as Shin and Maya continue to share their cuisine with the Northern Humboldt community.
You can stop by their new location at 1563 G Street in Northtown Arcata, Monday through Friday from 11 am to 8 pm. Follow Obento on Instagram @obentohumboldt to see their daily offerings and check out their new menu!
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