Did you know? How to count seaweed | Is the unit "pieces" or "sheets" correct?

How to count seaweed

As some of you may already know, there are two ways to count seaweed.

Number of sheets

The more common way is to count by number: 1, 2, 3. This is more common in everyday conversations at home.

Regardless of the size (whole or half cut) or the type (roasted or seasoned), the nori we see today is generally counted as one sheet, two sheets, etc.

Unit: "Jo"

When ten sheets of nori are grouped together, the unit is called "cho".

Generally, 10 whole sheets of nori seaweed are counted as 1 jo. This is a unit of measurement established during the Edo period and is still widely used today. 10 sheets is 1 jo, 20 sheets is 2 jo, and when purchasing nori seaweed from online shopping sites, the unit of measurement, called jo, is often written on the package.

The origin of counting nori sheets as one sheet

When you hear the word "jo", many people think of tatami mats and assume that 10 sheets of nori seaweed are the same size as a tatami mat, but this is not the case. "Jo" is a unit of paper.

The reason why 10 sheets of nori make up one tsubo dates back to the Edo period.

At that time, seaweed harvested in Edo Bay was processed in Asakusa and became famous nationwide as "Asakusa seaweed."

It is said that the manufacturing method of Asakusa Nori was inspired by the manufacturing method of washi paper. Because washi paper is made by hand one sheet at a time, the unit of measurement used is "cho".

Asakusa nori is also made by carefully scooping up and drying each sheet. It looks similar to washi paper, and for that reason, the unit of measurement for it, "cho," came to be used, just like washi paper.

Seaweed packaging labeling

Nori seaweed packages generally state the number of sheets, or both.

example
1 sheet (10 sheets)
5 sheets (50 sheets)
Pack of 10

summary

We hope you enjoyed this article. There are two ways to count nori seaweed: by the unit "jo" and by the number of sheets. Although there are some differences depending on the region, both are widely used.

When purchasing nori seaweed, it is a good idea to check both the size and number of sheets listed on the package.