Kjellmaniella is a monotypicgenusofkelp (large brown algae) comprising the species Kjellmaniella crassifolia, known as gagome (ガゴメ/籠目) in Japanese.[5][6]
It occupies sub-tidal[7] (sublittoral[8]) habitats similar to kombu but in deeper waters,[9] found (anchored to rocky substrates) by its holdfast connected to the stipe. The latter bears undivided blades, as typical for kelp species.[10]
It is characterized by textures appearing on the frond, described as dekoboko (凸凹, paraphrasable as 'bumps and dimples')[11][12] or "gyrations". The species is found growing in the waters of Japan, Korea Russian Far East (and Sakhalin).[2][10]
The compounded name gagome kombu (ガゴメコンブ/籠目昆布, 'gagome kelp') was proposed as standard Japanese common name in 2007.[14] This was prompted by reclassification under the Saccharina genus by Lane et al., 2006, though this was later reversed back to Kjellmaniella by Starko et al., 2019, cowritten by Yotsukura.[5][15] The algae is also known informally as gamo in the seafood market.[16]
The species has received attention in recent years not just for fucoidan content[10] but a more multilateral profile of fucoidan chemicals compared to other seaweeds, and they are now used in dietary supplements, cosmetics, and various processed foods[17] (Cf. § Uses for the particulars).
In the waters around Japan, the seaweed grows from southern Hokkaido down to the northern coasts of Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture. They also grow in south Sakhalin, the vicinity of Strait of Tartary and the northern east coasts of the Korean Peninsula.[18]
A rice dish called gagome meshi (がごめ飯) was developed in a collaborative effort for Hakodate city, as a new signature food item.[19] As the name may suggest, this is rice mixed with chopped gagome seaweed, topped with various seafood.[20]
In Hakodate, during the COVID-19 scare, gagome-kombu candy drops were freely distributed, with a costumed person dressed up as yuru-chara mascot Gagomeman (ガゴメマン) (designed by Prof. Hajime Yasui of Hokkaido U.[20]) participating in the handing-out.[21]
The gagome (개다지마[?], gaedajima[?]) is also amongst the seaweed harvested as "foodstuff" in parts of Korea also.[7]
^ abGuiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Kjellmaniella crassifolia". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
^Yoshida, Tadao; Yoshinaga, Kazuo (10 July 2010), "Nihon san kaisō mokuroku" 日本産海藻目録(PDF), Sōrui 藻類 [Japanese Journal of Phycology], 58 (Revised ed.): 82
Sakai, Takeshi; Kato, Ikunoshin (2001) "Functionality and health food application of seaweed fucoidans コンブフコイダンの機能性と健康食品への利用". New Food Industry, 43: 8–12,
Sakai; Kato (2002)
Kobayashi, Daisuke; Tani, Takashi; Yasui, Hajime (2011).『Kagome konbu no miryoku to baio fāmingu ガゴメコンブの魅力とバイオファーミング』Biophilia，7: 37–41
^Kawashima, Shoji (1993). "Kjellmaniella crassifolia Miyabe （ガゴメ）". Sōrui no seikatsushi shūsei 藻類の生活史集成. Vol. 2 (1st ed.). pp. 122–123. ISBN4-7536-4058-2.
