Featured Vintage Asian 3-tier hand painted stacking box - Country? & Translation?

I'm researching this 3-tier stacking box that just came in to us. The artwork all looks hand painted, but no idea on the age (my colleague who found it didn't think it was super old, more like 1st half 20th century, although that is just a guess). I am wondering if anyone can tell me more about it. I'd like to determine the country of origin, plus know what the text on the top and back says.
Weight is just over 5 pounds. Dimensions 8 inches high, 15-3/8 inches wide, and 9-1/4 inches deep.
Thanks! ... Dave







The last 2 pictures show some old labels that were on the underside.

 

I don't know much about this stuff but it's a Bento or Jubako box.

 

Pretty -- I like the fact that it looks old.

 

It sounds like then that this would be of Japanese origin?

 

bump

 

On the lid there are six characters, and a red square.

The red square is meant to represent an artist's seal. Seals (which are always RED by tradition) are most commonly used in China, Korea, Japan and overseas localities with large Chinese populations (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, etc).

I'd say it's Japanese, and that this was some variety of bento box. Stacked food-containers were (and still are) very, very common in Asian countries. I have a big antique brass one from the 1800s in my collection.

 

Looks to be an antique Japanese lacquer box. And although stacking, I would doubt meant for food.

Debora