Portable leftover food container (zansai-ire) with spiny lobster and seashells

A bright red crustacean decorates the front of this box, its long antennae wrapping around the sides and back. The construction of this small container, which holds a removable tray, suggests that it functioned as a leftovers container for table waste (zansai-ire).

This kind of container may sound similar to a "doggy bag," used to stash away tasty morsels for later consumption, but its purpose was different, aimed at something akin to the habit of "cleaning one's plate." At formal meals in Japan, it was considered poor etiquette to leave behind food or bones on one's dishes. Guests would discreetly tuck away and carry home for disposal any fish bones or other indigestible tidbits from a meal, so as to send a spotless set of dishes back to the kitchen. Pouches with a similar function are still used by practitioners of tea ceremonies known as the Way of Tea.