From October 2008 to April 2009, the domestic production of Nori, Porphyra spp, amounted 9,106 million of sheets in Japan, while only 402 million sheets were imported from other countries. That is, 95% of Nori demanded in Japan, has been produced domestically. On the contrary, the import ratio of other seaweed, such as Wakame, Undaria pinnatifida, and Hijiki, Sargassum fusiforme has been quite high. Japan imported over 80% of its annual Wakame demand and approximately 90% of its annual Hijiki from Korea and China. Recently, however, in Japan many problems have been occurring in the edible seaweed industries field in terms of the price which has been kept lower, a skewed age composition of fishermen which is mostly consisted of the aged, and decreasing number of the fishermen. In regard to Wakame and Hijiki, how to maintain the current import volume must be a key issue. It is, therefore, very important to collect the information about cultivating condition of Wakame and Hijiki in Korea and China.
