/Kelp beds

Kombu from named coastal beds

Hakodate and Rausu, Japan

Hokkaido kelp bundles, recorded with the coast, the cutting day and the drying frame.

Kelp harvesters in Hakodate and Rausu cut kombu from named coastal beds in summer. We record each bundle's coast, cutting day and drying frame, so a buyer knows which sea the kelp came from.

Contact the Hakodate officeDrying frames
Kelp drying on an empty beach at dawn

The cutting window on the Hokkaido coast

MayJunJulAugSepOct

The cutting day is written on every bundle. Kelp cut outside the season is flagged and cannot be graded as a seasonal bundle.

On the drying frames

KH-8101

Hakodate bed 4

Cut 12 Jul

Harvested

KH-8107

Rausu bed 2

Frame 6

Drying

KH-8114

Hakodate bed 7

Grade 1

Shipped

KH-8120

Rausu bed 5

Cut 20 Jul

Harvested
Strands of dark kelp washed onto wet sand at the tide line

Bed, day, frame

Coastal bed
Each bundle names the cutting bed on the Hokkaido coast.
Cutting day
The cutting day is written, and kelp cut outside the season is flagged.
Drying frame
The frame number and drying days are written before grading.

From the bed to the buyer's box

  1. 一CutKelp is cut from the named bed in season.
  2. 二DryBundles are dried on the frame and the days are counted.
  3. 三GradeThe co-operative grades and signs each bundle.
  4. 四ShipThe bundle is shipped with its record code.
Small northern fishing harbour with red sheds, boats and a timber quay