Japanese Traditional Footwear: Geta

If you visit a traditional festival in Japan and see Japanese people wearing kimono, you will also be seen using unique wooden footwear called Geta.

Geta resembles two clogs or flip-flops. They are a kind of sandal with a wooden base that is quite high then on top. There is a cloth clamp. Usually, Geta are worn with traditional clothing such as kimono and yukata. And also sometimes used during winter/rain, because of its high support shape it is often heard steps of people who use these traditional Japanese sandals.

Japanese Cultural Traditions – If you visit a traditional festival in Japan and see Japanese people who use kimono must also be seen using unique wooden footwear called Geta, Geta is a form of traditional Japanese shoes which resembles both clogs or flip-flops. They are a kind of sandal with a wooden base that is quite high then on top. There is a cloth clamp. They are worn in traditional Japanese clothing such as kimono or yukata. Sometimes the sap is used in rain or snow to keep feet dry, because of its high support shape it is often heard steps of people who use these traditional Japanese sandals.

In its simplest form, Geta is a thick wooden sandal which is supported by the two logs below. The bottom of the wood is called teeth (ha). Walking with a single or only one tooth is an effort to train balance, but most modern gums now have two teeth at the bottom, so it is far more practical and balanced.

Geta is not very formal. They are usually worn with yukata with bare feet without wearing socks. You will see many people use these traditional sandals in the summer of Matsuri and fireworks. Geta sandals are not as often as Zori sandals that are commonly used with Kimono and tabi socks. There is a unique geta called Tetsu Geta which is an iron version of the normal geta which weighs 3 to 5 kilograms. They have historically been used by martial arts students such as karate to strengthen legs.

The sound of the steps created by the Geta sandals is very characteristic, and the Japanese people call it “Karankoron” and many parents in Japan who hear this sound like returning to nostalgia when they were young. Breaking the rope in Geta is a bad thing according to the principles of the ancients. Therefore, many Japanese people avoid Geta at low prices or poor quality.