Human and Nature Friendly
Delicious Relationship Between
Yaeyama Island and Salt of Ishigaki
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History since 1717
This place which Salt of Ishigaki workshop is build after the birthplace of salt production in the Yaeyama Islands.
Why did our island ancestors choose this place among the widely scattered islands of the Yaeyama Islands?
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３０６ years History
The history of salt production in the Yaeyama Islands, the southernmost part of Japan, started in 1717.
Analogue sensa of our ancestors
and the unique value of the islanders
in the Yaeyama Islands are the origin of the birthplace of salt production.
The value can be seen in the discovery
of connecting the dots of the historical symbols of the nature worship, such as
the highest mountain top,
the moon, the stars, the sun,
and the iconic rock, to a line.
(For more information,
please visit the Yaeyama Museum.)
The God of Water lives in the highest mountain in Okinawa.
There is an Iconic Rock at the birthplace of salt production in the Yaeyama Islands.
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In summer,
the sun sets toward Nagura Bay.
The iconic stone only shows
the surface on full moon days.
About 18 islanders are currently participating
in the production of Salt of Ishigaki
in such a beautiful place,
the birthplace of salt production
in the Yaeyama Islands. .
Participating islanders are
men and women of all age
including the elderly man (Ojii) and
the elderly woman (Obaa),
who are professional salt craftsmen.
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Yaeyama Islands, Okinawa
Timeline of
Salt of Ishigaki
１７１７：Salt production in the Yaeyama Islands begins at Nagura Bay Cood, Ishigaki Island.
１９９７：Salt making in Ishigaki, Yaeyama Islands, revived in Nagura Bay.
２００３：Received the Award of Excellence for products for the remote islands of Okinawa Prefecture.
２００５：Obtained a patent for natural salt generating equipment and salt manufacturing method.
２００６：Obtained Japan's first "Regional Collective Trademark" by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Japan Patent Office. (The first in Okinawa Prefecture and the first in the salt industry)
２０１３：Featured at NHK - Shin Nihon Fudoki "Moon Night".
２０１５：Obtained Trade and Industry 6th Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Award for Excellence by Ministry of Economy.
２０１６：Winner of GOLDEN PIN DESIGN AWARD
The wonderful history and
natural blessings of
the Yaeyama Islands have been
recognized by the government
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