cJ>.

=^^9

United States Departraent of the Interior, J. A. Krug, Secretary
Fish and .Vildlife Service, Albert LI. Day, Director

Fishery Leaflet 263

Chicago 54. 111.

September 1947

The Japanese
Agar- Agar Industry

r

^

r>

a^^S' ^^^

United States Departraent of the Interior, J. A. Krug, Secretary
Fish and .Vildlife Service, Albert M. Day, Director

Fishery Leaflet 263

Chicago 54, 111.

September 1947

The Japanese
Agar-Agar Industry

ta

s

i

THR JAPAN^'.Sl? AGAR-AGAR IITOUSTRY

TABLT^ OF COMT^TTS

Page

Summary 2

A. Raw Material 3

B. Processing Plants 5

C. Manufacturing Process 5

D. Production and Export 12

E. Production in Areas Outside Japan Proper 16

Figures

Figure 1 ..... 4

Figure 2 5

Figure 3 7

Figure 4 8

Figure 5 . .• 9

Figure 6 10

Figure 7 11

Figure 8 11

Figure 9 12

Figiire 10 13

Figure 11 14

Figure 12 14

Figure 13 15

Maps

Yield of Agar-Agar Seaweed by Prefecture 18

Distribution of Agar-Agar Manufacturing Plants 19

Tables

Table 1 20

Table 2 21

Table 3 21

Table 4 22

Table 5 24

Table 5 24

Table 7 24

Table 8 24

THE JAPANESli; AGAR-AGAR Il^USTRY ^
Summary

1. Japanese dominance in the production and exportation of agar-agar
is so great that tne product may be considered peculiar to Japan.

2. The five largest consuming countries of Japanese agar-agar, judged
by their imports, were the United States, "fSngland, Germany, France, and the
Netherlands "^st Indies.

3. The method of manufacturing a^r-agar in Japan, while primitive, is
essentially simple and effective. Little mechanical or stationary equipment
is required and no expensive or scarce ingredients are used. Wood for fuel
is the largest single item of supply. Four pounds of fuel are required for
each pound of raw material used.

4. In the United States and most other countries agar-agar has many
uses. Chiefly, it is used in the manufacture of confections, laxatives,
cosmetics, and bread; in meat canning; in dental products; and for bacterial
culture media. Other uses include the clearing of wines and vinegar, the
glazing of textiles and upper leather; use in cordials and condiments and

in welding fluxes. In Japan its chief use is as a food. Although agar-agar
has practically no food value, when mixed with beans or various kinds of
fruit, it is highly regarded by the Japanese.

5. Although some agar-agar was diverted for war use in the manufacture
of shatterproof glass for airplanes, the industry is primarily a peacetime
one. The method of gathering and processing the raw material employs a
large number of persons. The product is of high q\;iality and is in world
demand.

6. The agar-agar bearing seaweed is abundant along the entire coast
of Japan. The most important sources are the Izu Islands and the coast
of shizuoka Prefecture.

7. During the decade from 1930 to "1940 .the average annual production
was 2,476 metric tons, and the average value was ¥10,569,486. Sixty-one
percent of the average production was exported. In 1945, because of a shortage
of labor for gathering the seaweed, production fell to 716 metric tons. The
value went up in proportion to the scarcity of the finished product, reach-
ing a level of ¥5.7 per pound compared to the average price of ¥1.5 per

pound in the years from 1930 to 1939 inclusive.

Photos courtesy of Japan Agar-Agar Distribution Control Company.

1/ This report is based on information gathered and compiled by Capt.
Claude M. Adams, Fisheries Division, llatural Resources Section, General
Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, Tokyo. Report No. 42,
June 28, 1945. (Reproduced by permission of the Civil Affairs Division,
War Department).

TEE JAPMESE A&Afir-A&AB DTDUSTEI

A. Baw Material

1. Agar-£sgar is made from the car'bohydrate extracted from
certain types of seaweed. The weed Is boiled and filtered and the extract
allowed to solidify. It is then subjected to a freezing and thawing
process which ronoves nearly all of the impurities and moisture. The
name agar-agar comes from the Malayan language and means seaweed. The
name was originally used to describe a seaweed, Bueheuma epinostim. found
in large qviairtities in the South Sea Islands.

3. Many kinds of seaweed are used in the manufacture of agar-
agar. Bach has a special ptirpose. The same variety may have different
properties depending upon the location and the season in which it is
gathered. To obtain a uniform product it is necessary to blend carefully
seaweeds from different areas and of different varieties. This blending
produces an agar-agar with a low setting point and viscosity and a high
jelly strength. The season is important because seaweed from the first
growth collected in May and June has a greater agar-agar content than
that of the second growth. Table 1 gives the botanical names and common
Japanese terms for most of the species of seaweed used.

3. The most important source of agar^agar from a standpoint of
quality as well as quantity is the seaweed &elidium Amansii. This variety
is found in considerable qxiantlty along the coast of Japan Proper. The
most abundant sources are the Izu Islands off the Izu Peninsula and along
the coast of Kanagawa and Shizuoka Prefectures.

4. The seaweed is gathered by fishermen and their families and

by deep sea divers. Seaweed gather-
ing rights, like fishing rights,
are issued by the Central Feder-
ation of Fishermfen' s Cooperative
Associations and give the fishermen

or the local aBsociatlon of fishermen the ezcluelTe right to gather eea-
veed in specified areas. The regulations of the Central Federation
goyerning the collection and distri'bution of seaweed require the fisher-
men to torn over the entire amount of seaweed collected to the Central
federation for distri'bution. The Federation allocates the raw material
to branches of the Japan i^ar-Agar Control Distribution Company in the
various processing centers. The company in tum distributes it to indi-
vidual plants.

5. The method of gathering the seaweed differs with the locali-
ty 'depending upon the customs of the various areas, the depth of the
water, and the fomation of the ocean bottom. Generally, the seaweed
growing in shallow places is gathered by two methods: One consists of
dragging raking instruments over the rocks and ocean bottom. Hen and
women wade into the water and scratch the seaweed off the rocks with
long-handled rakes. Where the water is too deep to permit wading, the
tools are weighted and lowered from boats or rafts. In the other method,
women divers operate from surf boards, boats, rafts, £uid large wooden
tubs. The tubs or rafts are propelled to the desired place by women who
use wooden paddles for the purpose. The women dive from these tubs and
pull the seaweed from the rocks and place it in the tubs . When the women
are tired or the tub has a stiff ieient quantity of seaweed in it the women
swlra to shore, towing the tub (Figure l) . Women divers using no mechani-
cal equipment except goggles
operate to a depth of 30 feet.
Women endure the cold water
better than men because of
their subcutaneous layer of
fat. They have developed an
abnoroEilly large chest ex-
pansion and lung cepacity.
In gathering seaweed from
rocks where the ocean depth
is greater than 10 fathoms,
men divers equipped with
diving ^paratus are employed.
(Figure 2).

6. The quality of
seaweed gathered in shallow
places is not so desirable
as that gathered from deeper
areas. The season for harvesting the seaweed is from April to September
depending on the locality. The first gfowth is gathered from %>ril to
June and the second growth from July to September. The seaweed is spread
on bamboo racks eilong the beacn to dry and is partially bleached by the
action of sun and rain. The time required for proper drying depends upon
the locedlty and the tempera ttire. The dried material is stored in barns
in the same manner that hay is stored. It may be held in this state from

Figure 1.

Women dive tor agar-agar sea-
weed.

ligav 2.

Men dlTe for agar-agar seaveed
in depths greater than 10
fathoms.

one year to the next without
fe&r of deterioration. The
"kanten genryo" or agar-agar
raw material, packed in
bundles weighing from 60 to
80 pounds, is shipped tj rail
to the processing centers.

7. Agar- agar may
be extracted from the dried
seaweed in individ'oal homes
by a simple boiling process.
Agar-agar when used as food
l3 eaten either plain or
mixed with other foods BMch.
as beans, or with fruits for
a desert. During the
present food shortage much
of tne seaweed has been sold
direct t& consumers for use
in this manner. This direct
sale of agar-agar bearing
seaweed through unauthorized
channels has resulted in the
present low production of
agax^agar for eoomercial use. The Jelly obtained from this simple boil-
ing process is called tokoroten. It is highly regarded as a food,
especially daring the sunmertime when it is considered a great delicacy.

8. In the production of agar-agar in Japan, about thirty
species of seaweed are used. These species are classified in seven
groups under the following names: tengusa, onl, toriashi, ego, ogo,
igisu, and hirakusa. Four of the groups, tengusa, onl, toriashi, and
hirakusa are classified as hard weeds, and the others, ego, ogo, and
igisu are classified as soft weeds.

B. Processing Plants

1. The choice of a site for a processing plant is extremely
important as the freezing and thawing method of dehydration and purifi-
cation requires a combination of ideal weather and water conditions.
Ideal weather conditions incltide freezing at night with the t^nperature
remaining above 7^ to 8° below zero Centigrade and clear, sunny days
with light southerly winds. Strong winds would blow dust and soot onto
the drying gelatin, resulting in an impure product. Because of the alti-
tude of the processing areas and the season of the year, north winds
usually cause a low temperature that drops below the desired point at
night and retards the thawing process during the day. Soft water should
be used in the process.

5 ■

2. The five largest processing areas on Honshu are located in
the mountainous regions of the following prefectures: Osaka, Kyoto,
Hjrogo, Gifu, and Hagano. The largest plants are in Hagano Prefecture
where the average capacity is 225 kilograms of raw material per batch or
day's run. The capacity of the plants in Gifu Prefecttire is 187 kilo-
grams; the plants in Osaka, Kyoto, and %ogo average 121 kilograms. The
processing season usually extends from the first part of December to the
latter part of February with an average of 70 production days, excepts in
Kagano Prefecture where the season is five days longer.

3. The Ministry of Agricultxire and Forestry registers and gives
permits to the operators of processing plants. Permits were issued to
536 plants in 1945. Of this number only 170 plants actually operated
because of the scarcity of raw material. In order to continue in
business, the operators of two to four plants combined their supply of
raw material and processed it in one plant, using a combination of labor-
ers and technicians from the several plants as a crew.

4. A typical, fairly large processing plant consists of several
buildings and fenced-in drying yards occt^jying an area of about one-half
acre. The buildings usTially consist of a warehouse, where both the raw
material and the finished product are stored; an office building; a wash-
ing shed in which the dried seaweed is soaked end washed; a boiling house
where the gelatin is extracted from the seaweed and placed in trays for
the final process; and the sheds where the finished material is sorted
and tied into bundles of a convenient size for handling and storage.

5. Each plajat requires an average of el^t men for full oper-
ating strength in normal times. As personnel have been combined in the
170 plants now in operation, a total of 1,700 persons is employed in the
industry. In 1947 conditions are expected to approach a more normal
state, and possibly 600 plants will operate, employing a total of about
4,800 men.

C. Manufacttiring Process 2/

1. Soaking and Washing

a. The dried seaweed is placed in cement bins approximately
10 by 3 by 1.5 feet in size and covered with cold water. This step in
the process has a twofold purpose. The tanks are located to take
advantage of the maximum amoxint of svmlight each day, and. the material is
stirred frequently so that all of the surfaces are exposed to the li^t,
resulting in a bleaching of the product. This is one of the purposes of
the soaking operation. The other is the removal of foreign material,

2/ The description of manufacturing methods is based on observations of
plants in Hagano Prefecture. Methods used in other areas are simi-
lar, although plant capacities are smsdler.

Btich as tiny shells and lime particles, salt, and sand from the seaweed.

b. The so-called hard weeds are soaked for periods to 25
hours; the soft varieties from 12 to 15 houxa. The water used in the
soaking tanks must be soft and should never be over 10° C as the seaweed
will spoil at this point in the process at a hi^er temperature.

c. When the soaking is completed the material is washed
Tintil as much as possible of the foreign matter is removed. Fonaerly,
the washing %ms done by primitive methods such as placing the seaweed in
pits and pounding it with mallets attached to long poles. This was done
by hand. Irentually, the mallets were suspended from an overhead
eccentric shaft, and the process was mechanized (Figure 5).

d. The use of
washing machines is a more
recent innovation. The tubs
are open on the bottom and
rotate on a perforated disc
in an eccentric circle. At
the same time the plunger,
which is slightly smaller in
diameter than the washing
tub, presses the seaweed; a
stream of water is run
through the machine froc a
half- inch hose. The seaweed
remains in the washing ma-
chine on an average of one-
half hour. The length of
time depends on the amotint
of lime and shell particles
or sand adhering to the sea-
Although \,he washing machine has been satisfactory for soft weeds
e 4) hard varieties are still subjected to mechanical potinding to
them in order to 'aid in the extraction of the agar-agar.

fl^e 3.

weed.

(rigor

soften

Soaking and bleaching tanks
and mechanical pounders for
hard varieties seaweed.

e. After being washed the material is placed in clean
cement tanks to drain until a batch of about 225 kilograms has been
aecnnulated. As each batch is bro light to the boiling sheds for the next
step in the process (Figaro 5) , it is given another soaking for about
tvo hours. This aids in the bleaching and keeps the weeds soft and plia-
ble.

2. Boiling

a. This is the most important emd critical step in the
manufacture of agar-agar. The correct blending of different species of
seaweed in proper proportions and temperature control are of vit»l

Figure 4. Modern machine method for washing soft
varieties of seaweed.

kilograms of seaweed and al^out 3,400 liters of water.
the boiliiig process is a typical plant follows.

importance in the
production of a
pure product of
high quality..
Table 2 shows the
most desirable
proportions of the
various kinds of
seaweeds blended
in each batch.
The tanks used for
the boiling process
are mada of wood
and are large
enoiigh to hold one
batch or about 225
A description of

b. The water is placed in the boiling tank and a fire is
started in the brick fire box under the tank at 1800 hours. Wood should
be used for this purpose to minimize the dust and soot in the vicinity of
the drying agar-agar. The water should be boiling by 2000 hours; at
this time the hard varieties of seaweed are added. The addition of the
seaweed stops the boiling. When it is resvuned, approximately 740 grams
of sulphuric acid are added to help break down the hard outer covering of
the seaweed and to control the Ph value of the batch. Care must be taken
to see that too much sulphuric acid is not added, as the Fk value of the
finished product should not be above 6.5 or 7.0. Hard weeds are boiled
for one and one-half hours, and then the soft weeds, iglso and ogo, are
added. This mlxtta-e is boiled for 15 minutes. Then the softest weed,
ego, is added. When the ego is added, no more wood is placed in the fire
box, and the active boiling stops. The entire batch Is simmered for 12
hours or until about 1000 hours the folio- :.. ^- day.

c. When this boiling is completed, the so-called "second
boiling" of the previous batch (explained in a later pso'agraph) is added
and remains in the tank for four hours. This is an overall time of
between 16 and 18 hours for the complete boiling process of one batch.
During this process it is important that the water not boil too vigorous-
ly and that the seaweed be stirred frequently to permit a gooa circu-
lation of heat. Prior to the war about five minutes before the liquid
was removed from the boiling tank two pounds of sodium dioxide were added.
This chemical was used as a bleaching agent. Since it was imported from
G-ermany, imports have now stopped. Consequently, none of this chemiceil
has been used in the last few years, and the agar-agar produced has not
had such a white color as when the bleach was used.

d. After the fire ie permitted
to die down, the temperature of the batch
drops ahout 1° C per hour. When the gelidiim
from the second boiling is added, the temper-
ature drops another 3° , meilcing a total
reduction of 17° to 20°. The temperature of
the batch at the completion of the process

is between 80° and 83° C. As the tempera-
ttire drops, the seaweed settles to the
bottom of the tank, madcing the dipping out
of the liquor a simple process.

e. The residue of seaweed
from each batch is placed in another tank
and about 1,230 liters of water ej:e added.
This mixture is boiled for 10 hours and
strained separately. The strained liquid
from this batch is called the "second boil-
ing". It is added to the next regular batch
in the manner previously described.

"Transporting"
clean seaweed
from washing
sheds to boil-
ing tanks.

f . The residue seaweed from
the second boiling is dried and used as a
fertilizer. From 225 kilograms of raw
materiad, approximately 52 kilograms of sea-
weed residue are left. As this materisd is

rich in potassium and contains some nitrogen smd lime, and as a critical

shortage of potassium fertilizer exists in Japan, the residue is valuable.

Host of it is used on farms belonging to owners and employees of the

plants. The balance is sold.

3. Straining and solidifying

a. The mother liquor containing the gelidi-um jelly in sus-
pension is dipped from the boiling vats into straining teuaks (Figure 6).
The tanks are about 5 by 3 by 2.5 feet in size and are perforated on the
bottom and lined with small bamboo rods. A filter cloth is placed in
the tanks for straining. This cloth, which is made of cotton, is referred

to as a 20-me8h filter and contains 400
holes per square inch. About two hours
are required to strain one batch of
liquor,

b. The strained liquor
drops into a collection tank which is
about 12 feet long, 6 feet wide, and
3 feet deep (See sketch). The tank
bottom is pitched so that the liquid
will gravitate to one ena as the gelatin

is skimmed off. The liquid is allowed to settle for two hours hefore
'being skimmed. A small section, 3 ty 2 ty 3 feet, is partitioned off at
the lowest comer of the tank to act as a skimming tank-. The partition
is solid on one side and has fire 2-inch holes with 6-inch centers in
the end facing the lowest point of the settling tank bottom. Pltigs £ire
inserted in the holes before the tank is filled. As the impurities
settle and the gelidium Jelly rises to the surface and begins to congeal,
the plugs are removed in order, from top to bottom, as the level of the
liquid in the settling tank falls. The material in the last two Inches,
which contains most of the impurities, is processed separately and sold
as a cheap grade. As the liqioid is drawn from the settling tank, it is
dipped into a bucket having a pouring spout and then potired into trajrs
for the final process of dehydration. The bucket is marked so that 14
liters of liquid are drawn off each time.

4. Dehydration

a. Trays used for the precooling process are 3 feet long,

1 foot wide and 3 Inches deep. The trays are filled to within two centi-
meters of the top. Pilled in this way, the trays hold 14 liters each.
From each batch of 225 kilograms of seaweed enough liquid containing the
gelidium in solutioa is obtained to fill 330 trays. This represents
about 4,620 liters of liquid (Figure 7).

b. The liquid- filled trays are placed in racks and left for
seven hours. By this time the temperature has dropped to about 40° C.
During this period the material has solidified enough to be cut into
oblong blocks for the freezing and thawing process. The importEince of
keeping the Fh below seven is evidenced at this point. A batch having a

higher Ph will not solidify
to the desired degree. A
! rake type instrument with
knife tines is ptilled
through the trays of gelatin
cutting the material into
oblong sections 2 l/4 by 3
by 18 inches. The oblong
sections are cut into other
sizes, depending on the use
to which the agar-agar is
to be put. For home con-
sumption some of the oblong
sections £ire cut to half the
width: some are left whole.

c. For export
to China and a few other
countries the material is
shredded. Shredding is done

Figure 6. Boiling vats and straining tanks.

10

Figure 7. Transferring congealed gelatin
to dry lag yard.

completion of the process.

by placing an oblong of gela-
tin in a box and pushing it
through a screen in the bottom
with a pliinger. The screen is
4 inches by 3 inches and the
mesh is 15 by 10 (Figure 8).
The shredded material and the
oblong sections are trans-
ferred to larger tregrs to
allow betuer circulation of
air (FigTires 9 and 10). The
tvays are stacked and left in
the field for from two to
three days for preliminary
freezing and hardening and
then are spread out for the

d. The dehydration process consists of successive slow
freezing of the material during the night and thawing and drying during
the day. The principle of this process is that by the slow freezing of
the water content of the material, large ice crystals form, and when the
thawing takes place, the water runs off, carrying with it those impurities
which are water soluble ^nd those which are in suspension in the colloidal
gelatin. During the process the trays containing the gelatin are placed
in a tilted position to permit water to drain off as rapidly as possible
(Figures 10 and 11).

e. This process is continued for a period of about two
weeks. The length of time required depends upon the weather conditions.
It is' sometimes necessary to extend the time as much as one week. When

snow or rain occurs, the dry-
ing material is moved into a
^ oovered shed to avoid ab-.

sorption of water and impuri-
ties by the gelatin.

f . When the
dehydration is completed, the
agar-ag^r is taken to the
packing shed (Figure 12) to
be sorted according to size,
shape, £ind color and is tied
in bundles of a convenient
size (Figtire 12) . From the
original 225 kilograms of
dried seaweed used in one
batcli, about 53 kilograms
Figure 8. Shraddisg of gelatin. (23 percent) of pure agar^-

11

agar is obtained.

g. Since
1923 various experiments
have been made in Japan
to modernize the dzying
and purifying of agar-agar
by using mechanical re-
frigeration and artificial
drying. So far the cost
of mechanical methods hat
been prohibitive under
Japanese conditions of
plentiful, cheap labor.

D. Production and
Jlx^ort

Figure 9. Filling and stacking drying trays.

1. The average
prodxiction of agar-agar during the years from 1930 to 1940 inclusive, was
2,476 metric tons per annum and the average value was ¥10,569,486. The
average amount exported per annum in this period was 1,525 metric tons
or 61 percent of the average production. The production for the yeax
19'i5 was 716 metric tons with a total value of ¥10,390,945. The price
of ¥12.8 per kilogram was more than three times the average of that

3,000

WT

IN

METRIC

TONS

E)

(PDF

JAPANE!
ITS, AND

1 1

BE F

H0^

- 0

1 1
RODUGTION,

^E CONSUMP

TION

^

/

\

1

~7^'

-

\

AGAR- AGAR

.^

PRODUCTII^

IN

\

2,006

1926-1945 J

/

\

/

\

1,000

/

/
•

/

\

\

V

^

--^

^^

.---

/

/ex

PORTS

>

/

1
\

>

>

\

/

"•

/

i

\

\
\
\

'\

/HOME

CONSUMPTION

V

.

\

-■ —

._..

/

<

S

\

■"■-1

\

1926 1 1928 1 1930 1 1932

1927 1929 1931 19

1934 1 1936
33 I93S 19

1938
37 19

1940 1 I9'42 1 I9'44 1 I9'46|
39 1941 1943 1945 |

12

produced from 1930 to 1940. Pro-
duction continued to decline and
In 1946, onl7 241 metric tons vera
i M-^-^ u I »■ »r, I ■MTJ' produced.

/Mm • f # I k'-'--- ' ■■■--'im% ^' ^^ 1926 Jspaa exported

/- JH 9 j M I f ?"i^ 1,083 metric tone of agar-aigar or

r ^v V it h :'/ fill f : ' 82 percent of the total production

of 1,308 metric tons. Production
figures rose sharply in 1933 to
2,081 metric tons. Since the world
market could not absorb this
increase, exports accounted for
only 63 percent of the total pro-
d\iction. Production continued to increase, and the percentage exported
declined until in 1940 less than half of the total production was ex-
ported. As foiu" of the five largest foreign users of Japanese agair-agar
were nations allied against Japan, escorts of agar-agar fell off abruptly
immediately preceding the war against these nations. JJixports continued
to decline during the war years until finally in 1945, only 77 metric
tons, or 10 percent of the production, was exported (Table 3).

Figure 10. Dehydration of agar-agar

3. From 1934 to 1940 Japan exported agar-agar to more than
fifty countries. The largest users of agar-agar during this period with
the average annual imports in metric tons were the United States, 257;
United Kingdom, 181; (Jermany, 178; France, 161; and the Netherlands East

Indies, 128- The annual average
export to all countries in the same
period was 1,455 metric tons.
According to these totals, the
United States imported about 18 per-
cent of all the agar-agar exported
by Japan d\iring the years from 1934
to 1940 inclusive.

a. Table 4 gives the .
total exports by country for the
years from 1934 to 1940 with the
exception of 1938. Complete
figures for 1938 axe not available
at this tine because this was the
year when the Japan Agar- Agar
Control Company was first formed,
and some statistics were misplaced
d\iring the confusion following the
organization of a central statisti-
cal office.

700
600
500
400

1

S300

.E

1
200

100-

A

^ERAGE AGAR-A

GAR EX

'CRTS

BY 1

CONTINENTS

1934-1937

s

to

o

i

IS

h

Si

■«)

EUROPE ASIA NORTH OCEANIA SOUTH AFRICA
AMERICA AMERICA

13

Tigaxe 11. Drying shredded and oblong agar-agar.

4. The examination and grading of agar-agar is the responsi-
bility of the Japan Agar-Agar Distribution Control Company. The classi-
fication of qoality is based on a visual examination for shape, color,
degroe of hardness, and nonsoluble impurities remaining in the product,
and a ealculation by chemical analysis and mechanical means of the jelly
strength, viscosity, solubility in hot water, speed of solution, moisture,
and :rude protein present.

5. The laboratory test for degree of solidity is made in the
following manner: 1.5 grams of agar-agar are mixed in 100 cc of water
and placed in a cup. The mixture stands for 15 hours at 20° C. A
plunger slightly analler in diameter than the cup and weighing 100 grams
with a cylindrical tip one square centimeter in area is placed on the
resulting Jelly for 20 seconds. If the plunger enters the Jelly, the
material is graded as not suitable for export. If the plunger will not
enter the Jslly, the material is graded tentatively as third grade (100)
or better. Next, a 200 gram weight is placed on the plunger, and the
test is repeated. If the material passes this test, it is graded tenta-
tively as 200 or second grade. S'inally, a 300 gram weight is used, and

material passed is graded
as 300 or first class.

6. The amottnt
of crude protein is
measured chemically; the
results must show that
less than three percent
by weight of crude prote-
in is present in the pro-
duct in order for the
batch to be considered
for export. In the past,
complaints were received
from buyers in foreign
countries that some ship-
ments of agar-agar were

Figure 12. Transferring dried agar-agar to
sorting shed.

14

Figure 13.

A^ar-agar ready for shipping
to distribution points.

discolored. Investigations
reveaied that the crude prote-
in content of the shipments in
question was greater thaJi
three percent. The amotmt of
crude protein present in the
finished product Is controlled
hy the slow freezing during
the dehydration process. This
is another example of the
importance of ideal weather
conditions in the processing
areas.

7. The quantity of
insoluble materials is
measured at the same time, and
the amount must be less than
four percent for export
pxirposes. The moisture content is also determined at this time, and the
finished product must have no more than 2Z percent by weight to be con-
sidered for export.

8. The melting point of agar-agar is determined in the follow-
ing manner: 1.5 grams of agar-agar are mixed with 100 cc. of water; 10
cc. of the resulting jelly are placed in a test tube, and a thermometer
is inserted through the jelly. The material is held overnight at room
leniperature to sillow the jelly to harden. When the test is made, five
grams of Tiercury axe added, and the test tube is placed in a beaker con-
taining 400 cc. of water. The water is heated over a Bunsen burner so
that the temperature increases 1*^ C in one minute, "hen the mercury
begins to pass through the jelly, the melting point is reached, and the
temperature reading of the thermometer is recorded. The test is repeated
several times on each batch in order to obtain an average figure.

9. Previously, when sodium dioxide was added to the batch as a
bleaching agent, a test was made to determine the amount still present In
the finished product. No tolerance was allowed for material used for
export; only .00025 percent was permitted for domestic use.

10. Visual inspection to determine the quality in regard to
shape, color, and packaging is made when the material is prepared for
shipment. The agar-agar is compressed and packed in large bundles weigh-
ing about 116 kilograms each.

4>^

15

11. The

following tebl

e gives the grading

of agar- agar for

Solidity

Cmde Protein
percent

Insoluble Material
percent

Iflt grade
2nd grade
3rd grade

300
200
100

less than 1.5
less than 2
less than 3

less than 2
less than 3
less than 4

If S02 was added: Ko tolerance.
Moisttire: Less than 22 percent by weight.

£. Production in Areas Outside Japan Proper

1. In 1915 Jfijjan started the production of agar-agar in
Sarafuto (Sakhalin Island) . Ahnfeltia plicata and A. plicata var
Tobuchiensis are fotmd in fair quantities in the Karafuto and Kuril
Islands area. These species are called Itaniso by the Japanese. Unlike
the other species, itaniso is not mixed with other kinds of seaweed in
the manufactxire of agar-agar. Production in Karafuto was increased year-
ly until recently the annual production amounted to 825 metric tons or
23 percent of the total production of Japan. (Karafuto production is
inclxided in the figures given for Japanese production in the accompanying
tebles.)

2. In 1917 Japanese industrialists started manufactviring agar-
agar in Korea. Host of the various species of seaweed used are available
in considerable quantity along the coast of Korea. At present the annual
agar^agar production edacity of Korea is 635 metric tons. Since the
Japanese manufacturers have left Korea, it is reported that only a few
plants are operating and that production is negligible-

3. I>atch industrialists of the Netherlands ^st Indies started
production of agar-agar when China placed a boycott on Japanese goods.
They constructed plants in several South Sea Islands where raw material
is found in sufficient quantity. Production fig\irea of this enterprise
are not in the possession of the Japan Agar-A^r Control Co]!Q)any.
Exports from Japan to the Dutch East Indies fell off from 228 metric tons
in 1934 to- 64 in 1940.

4. In 1937 some Japanese ag£u:-agar manufacturers went to
Chintow, China, to attempt the orgeuiization of a like industry in that
area. Baw material was found along the coast in small quantity, but, as
the water in the processing area was not of suitable quality, the project
failed.

5. Australia and New Zealand began the production of agar-agar
during the war years, and Australia is now producing about 80 metric tons

16

a year with the possibility of a much larger production. New Zealafid
produces about 15 tons a year, but this agar is of much higher quality
than other agair-agars and is ideal for bacteriological use. A solution
of 0.65 percent gives a solid medium; the agar-agar is colorless with
low ash £Lnd organic content.

6. The United States ente/ed the agar-agar production field as
late as 1937 but, because of a lack of raw material, was only able to
produce an amount sufficient to meet military demands and to maintain a
stockpile d\iring the war years. As little agar-agar bearing seaweed is
fo\uid Eilong the coast of the United States, most of it must be iotported
from Mexico. A considerable quantity of this raw material is found along^
the coasts of Lower California and Mexico Proper.

7. An inferior grade of seaweed of several species called
"kirinso" by the Japanese was formerly imported from Formosa. A
substance used medicinally was extracted from the weed; the residue was
used in the manufacture of agar-agar. An annual average import of 110
metric tons of high-grade agar-agar bearing seaweed was also made from
Formosa.

8. Table 8 shows the amounts of raw material imported into
Japan from sources in the Far East d\iring the years from 1939 to 1945
inclusive.

17

YIELD OF
AGAR -AGAR SEAWEED,
BY PREFECTURE

ERAGE ANNUAL YIELD
IN METRIC TONS 1939-1944

M:!v"::::i 201-500

^MB 501-1000

Over 1000

SOURCE JAPAN AGAR-AbAfl OlSTRiauTlON CONTROL COyPANY

18

DISTRIBUTION OF

AGAR-AGAR

MANUFACTURING PLANTS'

SOURCE JAPAN AGAR-AGAR DISTRIBUTION CONTflOL COMPANY

19

TABLE 1. - SP£CISS Of SEA.VXiU) USSS IN THS MAIIUFACTUBE
OF JiGkR - AGA£ IH JAPAN

MAMUFACTUREHS'

TERM

SCIENTIFIC NAME

COMHON NAME

Tengusa

fielldiiua Amanell Lmx

Tenguea

Tengusa

Gelidluin Pacificuia Okam.

Otusa

Tenguea

Gelldium divaricatum Martene

Teoguea

Gelidium crinalp (Turn) Lmx

Tengusa

Gelidlum liatulum Okam,

Tengiisa

Gelidium puslllum (Stckh) Je. Jol.

TengUBa

Gelidlum eubfastlgiatum Okam.

Tengusa

Gelidium vagum Okam.

Tenguea

Pterooladla capillacea (Gmel.) Born, et Thur.

Obakusa

Tenguea

Pterocladia tenuie Oknm.

Obakusa

Tenguea

Pteroclndift denea Okam.

Tenguea

Pterocladia wana Okaa.

Tenguea

Gelidialla acerosa Feldm. et Hamel.

Onl

Gelidium Japonlcum (Harv.) Okam.

Onikusa

Toriaehl

Acanthopeltie Japonica Okam.

Toriashi

ifeo

Ceramlum Hypnaeoldeo (J. Ag.) Okam.

Jfeonori

Ogo

Gracllaria conferrolder (L.) Grev.

Ogonorl

Ogo

Grpcllaris gigae Harv.

O-ogonori

Ogo

Gracllaria chorda Holm.

Tsuru-shiramo

Ogo

Gracilaria compresea (Ag) Grev.

Shiramo

OfeO

Graulaae. Blodgetti Haru

Ogo

Graulana lichenoides (L.) Haru.

Igleu

Gelidium linoidee Kutz

Hlgekuea

Igleu

Ceramium rubrum J. Ag.

Igieu

IglBU

Ceramium Boydenii Gepp.

Amikusa

Igieu

Ceramium craeeun Okam.

Hlrakuea

Gelidium sutcoetatum Okam.

Hirakuea

Hlrakusa

Gelidium tenue Okam.

Hirakuea

Hirakuaa

Gelidium planiueculum Okam.

Hirakuea

Klriuso

Euchetuna muricatum (Gm.) Wet V.B.

Klrinsal

Klrlneo

Eucheuma gelatinae (Esp.) J. Ag.

Katamen - klrinsal

Klrlneo

Eucheumn emekueaenEie Okam.

Amakuea - kirineai

Ki rinso

Eucheuma crustaeforme Wet V. Bos.

Itanlso

Ahafeltia pllcata (Huds.) Fr. Scau 'ar

.

Tobuchieneis Kanna

Itaniguea

Note: .GelldixuB Amaneii and G, Pacificum are by far the noet important epeclee in the pro-
duction of agar-agar (Kanten) in Japaji. They are known ae "genuine graes" (Hon-so
or Oya-kusa) . The other epeclee are called "weede" (Zaeso).

20

TA£L2 2. - JAFAiraSE AGAB-AGAB MAHU7ACTDBS

Most desira'ble proportions of the various species of seaveed used In one 'batch as
listed ty Japanese ^roup name:

Group Same Percent

Senguea

Onl

Toriashi

3go ... *

C^o

Ifcisu

Hirakusn

TOTAL: 100

Poxmde

U5 225

10 50

5 25

10 50

15 75

3 25

10 50

500

Note: Two other groupiafeS, Kirinso and Itaniso, are foiand only in Pornoea and
Karafuto and are not eenerally used in Japan.

TABLE 3. - JAPAMESE PBOrCCTION. BOPOfiTS. DOMESTIC CXDNSDMPTIOK
AKD CABRT OVER OF AGAB-AGAB, I926-I9U5

PRODUCTION

EXPORTS

DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION AN." CABBY OVER

Metric Tons

Metric Tone

Percentage

Metric Tone

Percentage

1926

1,308

1,083

82

225

18

1927

1.38'^

1.089

78

295

22

192s

1.35«
1,451

1,290

95

68

05

1929

1,322

91

129

09

1930

1.3S7

1.267

91

120

09

1931

I.U9I

1.209

81

282

19

1932

1.573

1,282

81

291

19

1933

193^+

2,081

1,312

63

769

51

2,320

1,256

51+

1,066

193&

2,1+95

1.510

60

985

Uo

1936

2,550

1.769

69

781

S

1937

2,655

1.591

60

l,06U

193s

2.579

1,522

59

1.059

Ui

1939

2,59»!

1,5^

50

1,351

50

19U0

2.93I+

i.igiJ

Uo

i.7»+o

60

19U1

2.150

589

27

1.561

73

19U2

1,715

315

18

I.UOO

82

19^3
19UU

1.578

157

10

1.1J21

90

1,280

119

9

1.161

91

19^5

716

76

10

6U0

90

SOURCE: Japan Agar-Agar Dietrltution Control Company.

21

TASLi; IJ. - AGAE-AGAH EXPOHTS FROM JAPAN BY COUNTRY OF DESTINATION 193U-19UO a/

(Quantltlea In kHograms)

DESTINATION

1 ■ -

193'*

1935

1936

1937

1939

19 1+0

A. ASIA

i-ifcnctmJniD

1,680

2,280

7.560

18,780

32,81+6

59.226

Kwaiitung

16,680

2l*.960

52.500

'+9,560
3l+,080

96,187

116,060

China

35.220

ks,kko

51.660

82,023

71,82U

Soviet Asia

1,080

—

—

Hong Xon^'

25.3S0

29.280

32.580
UU.IOO

15.:'60

1+20

120

French Ini^o China

16.560

37.500

ll+,l60

3,120

2,880

Slam

30.730

36,600

35.5SO

2l+,960

7,980

I+.I+70

British Kalaya

—

60

—

3,330

2,OU6

Straits Settlements

108,600

93.600

100, uuo

70.020

2J,306

l5.33f

British India

23,700

32,UO0

33,2U0

28.080

6,588

1,830

Ceylon

sUo

300

2,0U0

1.200

—

Iran

60

—

Iraq

180

...

...

Palestine

730

1,560

I..56O

1,800

...

Saudi i" rati ft

120

I18O

60

British Borneo

180

300

60

180

...

Ustherlands Indies

228,780

131.220

150,060

126,720

70.1+81

61+, 050

Philippine Islands

ii*,oUo

2U,360

27,960

26,760

13,755

9,U83

Others

300

—

120

16,560

20,628

Total AraoTint

503.700

U65,ooo

5'+?. 000

1+11,780

356.596

367.9^+7

Total Value, Yen

1,291,550

1.238,922

1.580.728

1.666,2U2

ND b/

ND

B. EUROPE

United Kingdom

136,800

187,980

2U3,U20

198,180

156.135
S9.6U3

163,680

France

97,1'to

218. 6U0

?l+5.580
15^,260

233,3'+0

83,61+0

Geraany

191I.2SO

259.560

236.9»+0

162,678

63. 5^*0

Italy

10,860

22,71+0

6.8U0

12,600

11.756

22.050

Poland- i^anzig

300

7,020

13.560

5,3^+0

1+,200

Belgium-Luxemhurg

2,160

l+,680

7.630

8,0l»0

,_

Holland

13,080

19,020

29.520

3'+.330

36,960

20.152

Denmark

8,280

9.720

18,780

1,320

3.3^

7.680

Finland

1,200

18.81+0

U,86o

Sweden

13,020

20,850

30,960

11,830

10,320

^560

ITorway

360

8l+0

Spain

?Mo

3.780

6,600

...

Irish Free State

—

1,200

..-.

_.—

USSR

—

1.020

...

...

Others

2.220

—

2,61+0

3.000

llU,300

__.

Total Amount

'+78,380

755.220

779 .OUO

752,91^0

589.352

365.302

Total Value, Yen

1,226,862

2,225,6U>+

2,1+66.710

3, 279. '+00

ND

ND

C. NORTH AMERICA

United States

191.3'*0

203.880

295.680

303.660

'25.1+35

322,511

Canada

5.9IW

5,100

ll+,580

13.500

16, 788

11.700

Mexico

2U0

120

1.920

960

_— .

Cuha

...

360

.

..-.

.M.

Others

3.000

—

—

Total Amount

197.520

209.100

315. 5^+0

318,120

?U2,?23

33^^.211

Total Value, Yen

U95.672

556.165

1,070.158

1.307,21+lJ

ND

ND

22

TABLE 1+. - ASAR-AGAH i3KP0HTS FROM JAPAM BY COUNTRY OF DESTINATION 193I4-I9U0 a,' (CONT'D)

(Quantltlee In kilograms}

DESTl NATION

193»*

1935

1936

1937

1939

I9I+O

D. SOOTH AMEBICA

Venezuela

360

...

1.080

120

ND h/

ND h/

Peru

1,920

1.920

2,160

2.820

ND

ND

Chile

2l+0

6,660

ND

ND

Argentina

23.100

22,500

1+2,21*0

25,560

ND

ND

Brazil

1.320

2,280

8,280

9.2I+O

ND

ND

Urviguay

180

ND

ND

Dutch CKilana

120

ND

ND

BritiBh Giilann

60

180

ND

ND

Total Amount

27,120

26,820

53.820

lil+,580

^9.170

52.788

Total Value, Yen

73.325

83,5»t7

191,297

213.636

ND

ND

E. AFMCA

tfelon South AfriOB

6,360

U.920

11,160

7.080

ND

ND

Madagascar

1)20

300

ND

HD

Kenya, Uganda.)

Tanganyika )

120

1+30

1+80

ND

ND

Mozamhique

120

120

ND

RD

Algeria

60

ND

ND

Others

1,560

120

ND

ND

Total Amount

8.0U0

5.160

12,060

8,0l+0

3.360

U,620

Total Value. Yen

20,UgU

14.1+1+2

3H.II7

37.658

ND

ND

F. OCEANIA

Australia

33.720

36,600

1+6,980

1+0,560

68,737

UU.U1I+

New Zealand

5.220

9.1+20

15.180

11.61+0

9.090

22.800

New Caledonia

1+20

...

_ —

Hawaii

2.160

1,980

3.5»K)

I* ,020

1^661

1.656

Total Amount

■+1,100

1+8,1+20

65.700

56,200

79.^*88

68,870

Total Value. Yen

107.225

lU2,925

231.UI+8

206,812

ND

ND

a/ Data for I938 unavailable.

h/ No data available

So^ce: Japan Agar-Agar Sletrlhutlon Control Company

23

TA2L£ 5.

- ACAS.AGAK OCORTS 7B0I'. JIFAI
1925-19145 Ioclu»lT«

AMourr IB

TALtB

runt FEB

TAini PIS

Ksrsic TOSS

IV TBI

IILOSBUI, TZH

potrai, Tm

1926

1,083

3,7''2,Ol'0

3.''

1.5

1927

1,089

',2^,31''

3.0

\:l

1928

1.290

'',l'i2,039

3.2

1929

1.3J2

I»,61l9,tl09

3.5

2.0

1930

1,267

3.833.027

3.0

1.3

1931

1,209

3. ''15. 903

2.8

1.2

1932

1,282

3.165,5'w

2.''

1.1

19;"

1,312

3.198,956

2.11

1.1

1.256

3.215,118
''.261,797

2.5

l.l

1935

1.510

2.8

1.2

1936

1.769

5.57''.''52

5:^2

l.U

1937

1.591

6,760,992

1.9

1938

1.522

6,201, a?

ll.O

1.8

m

1.3''''

8, !'•'', 217

6.0

2.8

i.igii

11,2'«),97''

9.1'

".2

191*1

589

''.953.000

2,6^8,200

8.1>

3.8

19U2

315

8.U

J:?

ISUk

157

1,'A7,0.--

9.1

119

I.lt95,120
97it,667

12.U

5.6

MI'S

76

12.8

5.7

Source: Japaa A£ar-A£ar QiBbrlbutlon Coaroi Cocipafiy.

TjlBLI 6. - JJU>iJiZS£ AGAB.ASAB
AKOtUT COBSUHm LOCALLT A!ID AHOUIjT CASBIED OTH
19l'0-19''5 IncluBlTe
thlt; Metric toae

tabu; 7. - ESTIMATE 07 AGAR-ACAS PEODDCTIOB IN JAPAB PBDPEH

ISC 19U6-ISB 19117

BASED OB COLLECnoB OP HAXIKOM AMOUBT 0? BAK MATEKIAL

I '

HUKBZa OF

SAW KATEHIAl

pEoiocnoB

PLAST3

DSU

OF AOaB-AOAD

Osaka

178

1.635

376

Kyoto

63

57a

133

Hyogo

58

532

12S

Bare

1

9

2

01 fu

3k

1.233

283

Ba^sDO

170

2,868

660

Yamanae.Tl

21

35'!

81

Shlzuolca

8

lOU

2U

Ounoa

2

26

6

PuJniBhlma

U

52

12

Klyagl

2

26

6

Ivate

2

26

6

Aomorl

1

13

3

TOTAl

60I

1

7, "56

1,71''

TXABS

TOXD IB HOta
COBSDKPTIOB

CABBin) OTQ

19'tl
19112

19lii
19''5

2,7'ie

1,582

l,U7li

1,180
UU5

312
880

172
276
3W
589

- AMODBT OF BAW HATE31AL PnaOHiSEB IT THE CEBTBAl FIMEATIOB
or nSHEBKEB'S COOPEBATin ASSOCIATIOBS. 1939-19115,
TBOH TEE JAPASESS MAIHLAHD ABE nZASST SCOHCIS
Anount li. Metric tone - Taloe Id Ten

TBAS

JAPAI PBOPEB

KABArrao

RBXA

AAt

Talse

Aat

Tain.

Ast

Talue

1939
i9»io

11,1*77

17,11011,963

1,687

55''. 850

909

662,510

7,879

111,058,185

1,1«U

551.000

780

669.3''7

19U1

7,621

1,312

330.050

6k)

357.11*7

19U2

''.?33
5. ''51

1,121*

30't,5OO

981*

1.196.39''
'1.138

19)13

7,700,79'!

-100

igtu

'1,208

5.712,329

—

19''5

1,160

2,867,126

—

17

5.103

TBAB

roBi

WSA

SOUTH Sll

k ISLAIDS

101

AL

Axt

Talue

Aat

Taloe

Alt

raise

1939

168

216.760

233

89.535

lU,lt7U

18.928,633

1<^

160

2ll2.650

137

62.1?5

10,380

15,583.375

19''1

l'i7

11*5.762

—

— -

9.720

9.876,100

X9U2

127

76.578

36

11,680

7.3''0

7,750.117

19''?
19l«

65

36.200

113

38,653

5.728
11.253

7.816.787

55
3'

53.36"

5.765.693

19''5

32.251

8

637

1.211.8

2,905.117

Source; Jnpan Agar-A^ar Dletrlbutlon Control Company.

24

25«e<

MBL WHOI Library ■ Senals

5 WhSE 0071

J