" Its thought that there are 3500 - 4000 types of ekiben being sold in Japan today.Why have such a range of variations been developed? I believe it is because of the inquisitive spirit of the Japanese with regard to food...is there any country where the people are more oriented toward eating and where they are more interested in trying everything?
Source: Ekiben
by Shin Sakurai,
Nipponica,
no 6, 2012, page 23