I refrigerate because I have more refrigerator space than I have pantry space. And also because the bottle tells me to. And also because I don't use soy sauce that often, so one bottle stays around for a while.

That said, I have endured ridicule for refrigerating my soy sauce.

Soy sauce - not refrigerated
Ketchup - refrigerated (but I don't like it cold!)
Oyster sauce - refrigerated (it gets moldy, ick!)

But what about the fancy balsamic vinegar I got for Christmas that says "refrigerate after opening"? I presume that's a crock too?

Soy sauce - not refrigerated
Fish sauce - definitely refrigerated
Bread - refrigerated (it's generally so humid here, that it molds up and gets rock hard extremely fast...whereas it stays good for a long time in the fridge)
Vinegars - not refrigerated

I never thought vinegars had to be refrigerated. My bottles say store in a cold, dry place. They're so acidic that I always just assumed they killed off any nasties (mold, bacteria) that came in contact with them.

I don't have any room left on my fridge door to store more condiments anyway. ;)

Re. vinegars, my Mom (ultimate authority on all things foodie!) told me to keep mine in the fridge because it takes me forever to get through them, and the flavor stays true longer that way. I don't know if that's true, but I generally follow her advice to very good results!

I also keep my soy sauce in the refrigerator, mostly for the same fridge door space vs. cupboard space reason.

I have never heard of refrigerating soy sauce! I always kept it at room temperature in the cupboard. I never refrigerated fish sauce either.

I dont refrigerate either and my mom is a chef. Fish sauce and soy sauce are always out, but oyster sauce must be in the fridge.

This is freaky, was just wondering the same exact thing a few weeks ago after reading the label of the soy sauce bottle.
I am chinese, and I don't recall EVER seeing anyone put soy sauce in the fridge. I think salt content of it is so high, it's okay to not refridgerate.

i don't refridgerate ketchup or soy sauce. ever.

Soy is from a bean. it goes rancid quickly. Buy smaller bottles unless you use it up fast. new research suggests that some soy products may be a health hazard. To ensure safety with stored foods, freeze them, don't refrigerate. It's not necessarily safer. bread dries out in the fridge.

My friends Ted and Vicky have lived and worked in Japan for years, and Vicky is a seriously gifted cook. They're incredulous that I never refrigerate my tamari (soy sauce). I've never noticed a difference in flavor between tamari kept in the fridge and tamari kept in the cabinet. I figure the sodium content is so high it acts as a preservative -- and I don't like my condiments cold -- so it stays in the cabinet. But perhaps this confirms me as a stupid American.

As someone who has had the unfortunate experience of seasoning my food with rancid soy sauce, I now always check for a sell-by-date and keep my soy in the fridge.
As far as ketchup, it should be Heinz and I always keep it in the fridge because that's what my mom does.

My Kikkoman goes in the fridge and so does my Heinz although I don't like my ketchup cold. The soy sauce in the fridge gives me a feeling of freshness, and it's a nice way to cool down my rice when I'm in a hurry.

I always refrigerate my shoyu...maybe cause my parents always did and all the japanese ladies at church do as well
: )

I'm Chinese and I've never seen my friends or family refrigerate their soy sauce.
Same goes with fish sauce. Oyster sauce or chili sauce should be kept in the refrigerator, but most Chinese common-used condiments do not need refrigeration.

I've lived in Japan for 20 years and no one refrigerates their soy sauce! My theory is Kikkoman says that on American bottles (they don't on Japanese ones) so they don't get sued if someone's silly enough to use really old/spoiled soy sauce. America is such a sue-happy country. :P

Never refrigerated! I don't like it cold, I find it tastes less like soy sauce when it's cold.