The Japanese word for salt is shio and table salt is shokutakuen. Find more words for salt in Japanese below.
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| Romanji | Kanji | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt しお | Shio | 塩 | |
| Table salt しょくたくえん | Shokutakuen | 食卓塩 | |
| Sea salt かいえん | Kaien | 海塩 | |
| Seaweed salt もしお | Moshio | 藻塩 | |
| Roasted salt やきしお | Yakishio | 焼き塩 | |
| Rock salt がんえん | Gan’en | 岩塩 |
Interesting facts about salt in Japan
Japan has been producing salt since ancient times through various means and today the Japanese make around 4,000 different types of salts. And salt not only plays an important role in their local cuisine, but it also plays an essential role in Japanese culture and tradition since it’s seen as a purifier.
As a result, salt is often used in various purification rituals. Sumo wrestlers for example, throw it around the dohyo before a bout since it’s believed to ward off evil spirits. It is also placed at the entrances of funerals and public places such as stores, theaters, restaurants etc, to purify those establishments.
Read more about it here.