[Special] Ota City, the Hometown of Nori: A History of Nori, Passed Down to the Present

The history of nori in Ota City dates back to about 300 years ago, during the Kyoho era (1716-1736) in the Edo period. This is when nori production began in earnest for the first time in Japan on the coast from Omori to Shinagawa. The sea around this area has a sea level difference between the low and high tides as well as nutrient-rich fresh water and sea water mixing in moderation. On top of that, the waves are gentle. The environment was suitable for growing nori.
 
From 1746, nori started to be accepted as a way to pay taxes to the bakufu (government), and Ota City grew as a producer of the top-notch nori paid as a tribute to the shogunate’s family. The farming technique and dried nori processing technique developed in Omori was spread all across Japan. From the Meiji period to the beginning of the Showa period, Omori was the biggest nori production region in Japan at its peak.
 

A drawing depicting nori production from the Meiji period by Utagawa Hiroshige III in 1877.
However, due to several reasons, including a harbor improvement plan, in 1962, it was decided that the fishery would be abandoned. With the last harvest in 1963, the curtain came down on the long history of nori production. However, by utilizing the tradition, technique, and experience with handling quality nori in large volumes as producers, current nori wholesale merchants in Omori select and process nori to sell. This is Omori nori.

We visited the Omori Nori Museum so that we could get to know the history of nori in detail. This museum, which opened in 2008, is a rare one that specializes in nori where all the stored items and exhibitions are tools for or related to nori farming and nori processing. 881 items in the collection here are designated as Japan’s Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties.


Exterior of the Omori Nori Museum. It also plays a role as a visitor center for those who visit Omori Furusato-no-Hamabe Park.


Director Fumihiro Koyama (left) and one of the staff, Ms. Mako Igarashi (right) introduced us to must-see exhibits.

When entering the entrance on the 1st floor, we saw 3 wooden boats exhibited, which had a tremendous impact on us.
The smallest boat is called a bekabune boat. “Beka” comes from “hekaheka,” which means thin and flimsy. Bekabune boats were used for nori farming. Chubeka boats that are a bit bigger than bekabune boats were used for transporting materials such as bamboo hibi (bamboo poles to put in the sea for growing nori) for nori farming. The biggest boat is a noribune boat, which was used to transport bekabune boats and materials to nori farms off the coast.


The only noribune boat left in Ota City. The full length is around 13m.
Ms. Igarashi “This noribune boat was used for fishing after nori farming ended, but it eventually fell into disuse and was anchored beneath an expressway. Due to various circumstances, it was decided that Ota City would take possession of the boat for preservation. It was repaired and stored by Ota City. The shipwright who built this boat restored it to the original noribune state.”
 
It is surprising that the last noribune boat of Omori in existence is being exhibited in such great condition. It is indeed a product of the feelings and effort of many people who wish to preserve our tradition.

Onto the exhibition room on the 2nd floor
On the 2nd floor, various items from nori-geta sandals (surprisingly tall at 30-150cm!) and another tool to build hibi (wood and bamboos to put in the sea for growing nori) to a knife to mince nori and sudare screens to dry nori are exhibited. Of course, each and every item was once actually in use.


 

Various tools for nori farming and production.
Experiential area of nori-geta sandals. (Due to the countermeasures for COVID-19, tryouts are currently not available.)	A model showing hibi construction (a nori farming method).

A bulletin board introducing volunteer activities is placed in front of the stairs on the 1st floor in the museum. At the museum, with the cooperation of local volunteers, an initiative to pass down the nori culture to the next generation, such as experiential sessions of traditional nori production methods and nori farming on the coast nearby, is continuing.
We were able to understand Ms. Igarashi’s words, “This is a museum transferring knowledge from one person to another.”
 
The museum distributes various leaflets, and we definitely recommend their souvenirs, such as delicious roasted nori and an apron made in the style of a nori farmer.
 
We hope you will have a glimpse of the history of Omori and the pride of our ancestors through the valuable materials on exhibit and the experiential session.

The Monument to the Birthplace of Nori Production, given by the Omori Nori Wholesales Cooperative, is located in the square in front of the East Exit of JR Omori Station to pass down the history and culture of nori production birthplace. The history of nori in Omori is carved in words and pictures, so the monument is worth checking out!
 
The shape of this monument uses the motif of the wooden frames used for drying harvested nori in the sun, and recreates the frame in life-size. In the past, scenes of nori being dried like this used to be seen all over near the coast of Omori.






We hope you enjoyed this special report on nori.
Some of you might have become interested after learning about the relationship between Ota City and nori, or want to go visit the Omori Nori Museum.
Nori is such an everyday food that we eat it without a second thought. Wouldn’t it be nice to appreciate the taste now that you know more about nori?