Japanese Traditional Footwear

About this book

200 pairs of geta, zori and tabi — the complete story of what Japan wears on its feet.

Most guides show you a handful of famous sandals. This one documents 200 — the wooden geta of festival dancers, the woven zori of tea masters, the white tabi of weddings, and the craftspeople who still make them by hand.

Walk through the footwear of Japan region by region and craft by craft: the paulownia geta carved in Fukushima, the rush-grass zori of Oita, setta, waraji straw sandals, jika-tabi work boots, snow boots of the north, and the dyers, weavers and wood-carvers behind them. Every entry explains what it is, where it comes from, how it is made and when it is worn — festivals, funerals, tea rooms, sumo rings and snowy mountain paths.

Written and produced in Japan by Japanese author Aki Wakamatsu (Takikawa TOKOTOKO Kids LLC) — a real Japanese-made guide, researched from the makers and traditions of Japan itself.

Inside: 200 footwear entries · the crafts of wood, straw, rush and cloth · regional traditions from Hokkaido to Okinawa · how each type is made, worn and cared for · the festivals and ceremonies where you can still see them today.

One volume of the Complete Guide series — the culture of Japan, one craft at a time.