ENJIRO TANOYA

塩職人　田野屋塩二郎

1971年生まれ。東京都出身。
高校時代はラグビーで全国大会に出場。大学卒業後はサーフショップのオーナーに。

35歳で高知県に移住。
日本一の塩職人・吉田猛氏へ弟子入りし、塩づくりの道へ。

朝4時に起きて、塩の状態を見に行く。
絶えず様子を見ながら撹拌し、風や湿度を読んで手を入れる。気温が少しでも変われば、塩の仕上がりも変わる。

同じ時間に起きて、ただ手を動かす。
そして、塩と会話する。師匠から教わったことを、ただ、ひたすらにまっすぐ続けている。


Salt Artisan “Shiojiro Tanoya”

Born in 1971. From Tokyo. In high school, he competed in the national rugby tournament. After graduating from university, he became the owner of a surf shop. At 35, he moved to Kochi Prefecture. He then apprenticed under Takeshi Yoshida, regarded as Japan’s finest salt craftsman, and entered the path of salt making.

He wakes at 4 a.m. and goes to check the condition of the salt. Constantly watching over it, he stirs it, reading the wind and humidity and adjusting his hand as needed. Even the slightest change in temperature alters the final result.

He wakes at the same time each day and simply keeps his hands moving—then converses with the salt. What his master taught him, he continues, straightforwardly and tirelessly, without wavering.

Photo:Takashi Kurokawa