Cut the nori. First, make a 1/2-inch (1.5 cm) regular pentagon out of origami paper. Place it on stacked nori sheets and cut around it to make pentagon shapes. You can prepare these in advance and store them in a zip-top bag in the refrigerator to keep them crisp.

Scoop a small amount of rice into a bowl, then use plastic wrap to gently shape it into a ball (this is just to form the shape).

If you want to add a filling, spread the rice out on the plastic wrap and sprinkle with furikake at this step.

Tightly twist the plastic wrap to form the rice into a ball shape.

Place one nori pentagon in the center of the rice ball.

Attach the remaining nori pentagons around the center one, aligning the corners so they point toward the center. Arrange them evenly for a balanced look.

Gently flip the rice ball over, still wrapped in plastic, and attach nori pentagons to the other side as well.

Twist the plastic wrap tightly again to help the nori stick well, then flip it right side up. Your soccer ball onigiri is done!

It's cute as is, but for an extra touch: rewrap the rice ball neatly with plastic wrap, twist the end, and tie it with a twist tie or chenille stem. Trim the end of the plastic wrap with scissors for a clean finish.

For a tag, cut a piece of thick paper, punch a hole in it, thread it onto the twist tie or chenille stem, and twist to secure. Now you have a 'message ball'!

This was my son's kindergarten lunch. If you're eating outside, keeping it wrapped in plastic is best!

This is a homemade lunch for my husband, too!

We reached 10 recipe reports—thank you so much!

I made two: one soccer ball onigiri with nori and one star-shaped boiled carrot. It's pretty filling!