Nobeoka (Miyasaki Prefecture), Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture) and Niihama, 
Ehlme and KocM (KocM Prefecture), 79/ There were also about a dozen 
producers of hardened oils (largely fish oils) most of which also pro¬ 
duced soap. Normally soap was the principal domestic outlet for hardened 
fish oil but they were also used for food. 80/ 
Seaweed Processing 
Much of the processing of seaweed was simply that of drying the 
raw material to be used either as food or for fertilizer (see pages 103 - 
107), Other seaweeds, however, undergo more complicated manufacture such 
as the Gelidium species manufactured into agar-agar. 
Japanese statistics claim a production of about 25,000 tons of 
agar-agar (Table 57). Most of this was made from a mixture of several 
species of Gelidium (chiefly Gelidium amansi ) which was bleached in the 
sun, then pounded to remove the limy elements and again bleached. This 
was followed by a 10-hour boiling period during which the agar-agar jelly 
was dissolved out of the seaweed and put into moulds for congealing. 
This was then cut into shapes, frozen, drained and air-dried. Agar-agar 
which was marketed in four forms (bars or squares, strips, powder and 
"paper”) was used in the Far East as a food but in the United States and 
Europe as a base for the culture of bacteria, in drugs, as a substitute 
for gelatin or pecten in making puddings and jelly, in starcMng material 
79/ Report of interview with A. R. Goedicke. He reports plants in Korea 
at Rashln, Seishin, Joshin, Konan and Fusan, 
80/ Japanese Trade Studies, Special Industry Analysis No. 15 Fats, Oils 
and Oil-Bearing Materials (U. S. Tariff Commission). May 1945. 
- 145 - 
ie-o31 pi^o bu 
/ 
