Sail mark of a Kitamae-bune (a type of Japanese sailing ship) Otaru, as the gateway to the development of Hokkaido, prospered as many Kitamame-sen (ships sailing from the Seto Inland Sea to Hokkaido) docked there. Kitamae-bune refers to merchant ships that connected Osaka and Hokkaido from the mid-Edo period to the Meiji period. They traveled via the Seto Inland Sea and the Sea of Japan. In an era before the development of land routes, they served as a major artery of logistics, transporting a vast quantity of goods. Also known as "kaitai-bune" (purchase and storage ships), they were later called "maritime general trading companies." As Kitamae-bune (North Sea ships) traveled from port to port, taking advantage of price differences to conduct business, they relied on sail markings to identify ships (and their cargo) when waiting for their arrival in port. The sailing ships of the time, including Kitamae-bune, had black cloth or similar materials sewn onto their sails. The length and shape varied, allowing for the identification of the ship's affiliation and owner from a distance, even from the open sea. In an era when information was scarce and the Kitamae-bune ships were the center of logistics, their arrival in port must have been something everyone eagerly awaited. I imagine that people in Otaru harbor also had their hearts fluttered by the sight of the sails in the distance. All about kelp Kelp was once highly valued and expensive, used not only as food but also as medicine. As Zen Buddhism spread along with its vegetarian cuisine, kelp came to be used as a broth ingredient, eventually becoming a staple in the lives of ordinary people. Essential to "Washoku" (Japanese cuisine), recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2013, kelp, with its high umami content, remains an indispensable ingredient for Japanese people, both then and now. Kelp has been considered auspicious because its old name, "Hiromé," sounds similar to the word for "to spread" or "to disseminate." While the etymology of "konbu" (kelp) isn't entirely clear, it's suggested that it may be related to the "konbu" found in Chinese literature. The wordplay "yorokonbu" (joyful kelp), popular in the Edo period, uses the characters for "child-bearing woman" (konbu), reflecting wishes for prosperity and numerous descendants, and it's even said to have been included as part of betrothal gifts. UNGAPLUS tells the story of the Kitamaebune (North Sea trading ships) with its "Kombu-zuku" series, featuring "Lishiri Dashi Konbu," considered the finest quality from Kaifu, Rebun, and "Hand-made Oboro Konbu," which has also been recognized as a constituent cultural asset of the Japanese Heritage. The series features hanging paper adorned with the sail marks of the Kitamaebune. Rishiri kelp (for dashi) Tororo-wrapped kelp Hand-made Oboro Kelp All about kelp
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