4 
RESEARCHES ON THE MANUFACTURE 
to which reference may be made. Both rice and barley koji are 
made use of. 
3. Common salt. 
Salt is procured in Japan exclusively from sea water, which 
is allowed to dry on sandy beds near the shore. The superficial 
sandy layer of the beds is extracted with a small quantity of sea 
water, and the concentrated solution is then evaporated nearly 
to dryness in iron pans over a fire, whereupon it is allowed to 
cool. The crystals of common salt which then deposit, are col¬ 
lected into baskets, the brine containing chiefly magnesium salts 
is allowed to drain off, and the salt is then further dried in the sun. 
The product thus obtained is, of course, still very impure. Analy¬ 
ses by O. Korschelt and M. Hida 1 and by K. Kogajima 2 of several 
specimens of salt from various districts in Japan, gave the 
following results : 
Ajino, 
Bizen. 
Ako, 
Harima. 
Mitajiri, 
Suwo. 
Giotoku, 
Shimosa. 
a 
b ' 
a 
b 
C 
Water . 
I.7O 
1.36 
1.65 
4.42 
2.28 
4-52 
Sodium chloride. 
9 I -55 
91.01 
g2.II 
92.34 
87.75 
89-37 
Potassium chloride.. .. 
.. 2.38 
1.66 
i -35 
1.76 
U13 
I -57 
1.84 
Magnesium chloride .. 
.. 3.83 
1.86 
3-30 
1.59 
O.4O 
2.74 
1.62 
Calcium chloride .... 
x.74 
1.38 
0.87 
0.82 
2.04 
1.22 
Magnesium sulphate .. 
•• 3-39 
1.15 
1.56 
2.02 
0.88 
3 - 5 6 
i -35 
Insoluble matter. 
O.O7 
O.O4 
— 
0.01 
0.06 
0.08 
The 3 raw materials described are mixed, as already stated, 
at very different temperatures of the steamed beans, and it seems, 
that the course of the subsequent fermentation and the keeping 
qualities of the product are principally determined by this 
circumstance. For example, in the manufacture of shiro miso 
(white miso) the beans are still so hot when they are mixed with 
koji and salt, that the workmen, who perform the operation by 
treading, have to wrap their feet in straw to protect them from 
scalding. This kind of miso ripens very early and is ready for 
1 Chishitsu Chosajo (Meiji 16th) No. 2, p. 286 (second report of the Imperial 
Geological Survey, in the Japanese language). 
2 Nihon Shokuji, Meiji 18th, p. 180 (in the Japanese language). 
