köken: First cited to a record in the Shoku Nihongi, written 715 CE. Theories include: * From Middle Chinese 昆布 (MC kwon puH, “seaweed, kelp”). * From Ainu, possibly via Ainu コムブ (kombu, “a brown seaweed, Laminaria”), which may also be borrowed from Middle Chinese 昆布 (MC kwon puH, “seaweed, kelp”). The early date of first citation, and the existence already in 715 of the kanji spelling 昆布, seems to make…