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Ariake Suisan
アリアケスイサン
The Ariake Sea is an ideal environment for cultivating nori (seaweed), accounting for approximately 40% of Japan's total nori production. One key reason is the abundant nutrients brought in by the Chikugo River—Kyushu’s largest river—which flows from the mountains into the Ariake Sea, enriching the waters and supporting the healthy growth of nori.
Another factor that makes the Ariake Sea so well-suited to nori farming is its dramatic tidal range, which can reach up to six meters. As the tide recedes, the nets used to cultivate nori rise above the surface of the water and are exposed to the air. This drying process, known as “kanshutsu”, is essential for strengthening the nori and protecting it from diseases and the spread of diatoms. To enable this process, fishermen painstakingly install approximately 2,000 poles—each about 10 meters long—into the seabed by hand. Though it is an incredibly labor-intensive task, this traditional method has been passed down through generations, resulting in a high-quality nori unique to the Ariake Sea.
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In this very sea, Ariake Suisan, a family-run nori producer spanning three generations, has continued to evolve the craft of nori making. Realizing that simply preserving the techniques passed down from their grandfather was not enough, the second generation began developing new types of nori—not just the conventional square sheets, but products that maintain more of the nori’s original form and texture. After three years of dedicated research and development, they created a new product: "Shisai", a premium nori made exclusively from the first harvest—the most tender and flavorful of the season.
