A selection of traditional Japanese footwear ranging from geta (made of wood) to zori (bottom) and waraji bottom right).
As the above photo clearly shows, there is a large number of styles, depending on the wearer and the usage. Japanese footwear allows free circulation of air around the feet, making it perfect for the hot humid summers of Japan, although a bit cold in winter. The high teeth (歯 ha) of the geta kept the wearer’s feet clean during a rainy day on Japan’s notoriously muddy roads.
Although geta and zori had lost much of their popularity after the end of WWII, young people rediscovered them in the mid 1990’s with the new popularity of yukata (cotton summer kimono).
The yukata boom came as famous Japanese fashion brands like Kansai Yamamoto, Junko Koshino, Junko Shimada, Comme des Garçons and others threw out the traditional patterns and created beautiful new designs that attracted modern urban youths.
Published
Updated
Reference for Citations
Duits, Kjeld (). 1890s: Japanese Footwear, OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN. Retrieved on March 22, 2023 (GMT) from https://www.oldphotosjapan.com/photos/276/japanese-footwear
I have a small favor to ask
Old Photos of Japan aims to be your personal museum for Japan's visual heritage to increase our understanding of Japanese culture and society.
Finding, acquiring, scanning, restoring, researching and conserving these vintage images, and making the imagery and research freely available online, takes serious time, money and effort.
I do this without charging for access, selling user data, or running ads.
Your support helps to make this possible, and ensures that this important visual heritage of Japan will not be lost and forgotten.
If you can, please consider supporting Old Photos of Japan with a regular amount each month. Or become a volunteer.
Thank you,
Kjeld Duits
Sophia
Did they have to wear those in Winter also? :o
#000126 ·
Kjeld Duits (Author)
These were worn all year through, but in the colder places of Japan they also wore tabi (socks) and in case of snow a sort of snow shoes made of straw. At the time this photograph was taken such places were still barely visited by foreigners, though. So they wouldn’t have seen them.
#000128 ·