Here’s your delicious A-list of Geta Japanese traditional shoes. The two basic types of Japanese sandals or Japanese shoes is the Geta and the Zori. Geta are Japanese sandals made of wood that have little risers on the bottoms that keep the feet out of the wet.
They have a flat wood sole, a V style toe thong, and are raised up on two wood strips. In Japanese the strips are called “Ha” which is the Japanese word for tooth or teeth. Japanese Geta come in a variety of colors and styles, red and black being the most popular.
They are surprisingly comfortable, and take a very short amount of time to learn to walk in. Designs for some shows set in Japan, sometimes require them, yet they are often troublesome to get, or expensive to buy.
Geta Japanese Traditional Shoes
Geta, a style of traditional Japanese footwear. In Japanese there are no plurals, so the term Geta applies to one, a pair, or a whole tea house full of them. It’s pronounced Ge-ta as in “Get a job.”
- Geta Sandals. The soles are rectangular and the thong that goes between the toes is centered between the two sides of the sole so that the left and right Geta are identical. The thong goes between the big toe and the next one so the foot is off-center. Some have covered toes for foul weather protection. Geta Japanese traditional shoes was termed Geta because of the “clack clack” sound they made when walking. Geta are any sandal with a separate heel. The Japanese professional sumo wrestlers in the lowest two divisions of Jonokuchi and Jonidan must wear Geta with their yukata at all times. The clacking sound that Geta make when walking are consequently something aspiring sumo stars wish to leave behind as soon as possible.
- Wooden Geta. Geisha. Maiko wear distinctive tall Geta called Okobo which are similar to the Chopines worn in Venice during the Renaissance. Also very young girls wear Okobo, also called Pokkuri and Koppori, that have a small bell inside a cavity in the thick sole. These Geta have no “teeth” but are formed of one piece of wood. The middle part is carved out from below and the front is sloped to accommodate for walking. Pokkuri are usually red in color and are not worn with Yukata, but a very fancy kimono (such as at Shichi-Go-San festivals). The wooden Geta sandal is the most well known by Americans for the beautiful pictures seen of geisha women. However, there are many other types of Geta sandals including those made of vinyl. Wooden Geta have a slightly tapered front heal, making the person lean forward with each step. Geta sandals are not easy for some people to walk on and takes practice to walk correctly.
- Takai Geta. Everyday Geta are about 2 inches (5 cm) tall, these are about twice that height. They are sometimes called Takai Geta/Ashida which means rain Geta/clogs although most rain Geta have thinner ha. Although neither difficult to walk in, nor uncomfortable, they’re definitely not your Reeboks! Takai Geta (the high ones) require more skill. The front of the sole doesn’t necessarily hit the ground so steps don’t quite feel complete. And they’re higher so that any unevenness in the ground is magnified and more likely to promote a fall or twisted ankle. You have to pay attention to where you’re going.
- Senryou Geta. Other names are occupation Geta, lucky Geta, or great Geta. These slanted front Geta were very popular around the time of the Russo-Japanese war. One meaning of the word Senryou is “occupation,” so the Geta were named because of the patriotic feeling of the time. Another form of the word comes from sen = 1000 + ryou which is an old unit of currency. One thousand ryou is about $100,000 so these are very lucky, or perhaps million dollar Geta. Fortunately a pair can be had for around $35.00.
- Tengu Geta. Perhaps the strangest of all are the Tengu or Ippon-ba (one tooth) Geta. These are worn by the mythical Tengu the long nosed goblin. Tengu are reputed to wear very tall Geta, and are often pictured as wearing tall Geta with only one ha. Although the Tengu is mythical, the Tengu Geta are made and sold being described as for “mountain men and priests. They’re good for walking in swampy areas because the mud doesn’t get stuck between the two Ha like regular Geta. Obviously they develop balance, too! With a little practice, the Tengu Geta are not especially difficult to walk on. The hardest part is standing stationary. At first you’ll find yourself constantly shifting your feet, perhaps like riding a unicycle. Eventually our seemingly infinitely adaptable bodies learn this new skill.
- Vinyl Geta. This is the most popular Geta worn for formal occasions with the kimono. The thongs are normally made of velvet or vinyl and come in a variety of colors.
Where Can I Buy Geta Japanese Traditional Shoes
Are Geta difficult to walk in? Yes! Significant practice is required before someone can walk safely and elegantly in Geta. Geta are made of one piece of solid wood forming the sole and two wooden blocks underneath. These block may have a metal plate on the section that touches the ground in order to lengthen the life span of the Geta. A V-shaped thong of cloth forms the upper part of the sandal. After some practice, not only will you be able to walk, stop, and stand, but you’ll be able to stand on one foot!
People often ask what are they like to walk in. It’s Noisy! The bare wood makes quite a clatter, after a while they quiet down a bit because the wood softens up where it hits the ground. An easy way to make them really quiet is to put rubber on the ha.
It is somewhat jarring. There’s no cushioning. It’s a busy walk, too. As you step forward, your foot lifts off the sole, then the sole flips forward on the front ha, the toe end of the sole hits the ground and the back of the sole catches up with and hits your foot. Then you lift your foot off the ground, and when you complete the step the rear ha hits the ground, jar, then the front.
Want to try a pair? You can buy Geta Japanese traditional shoes at the Getaya. In Japanese the word for a shop that sells something is usually the item’s name suffixed by ya. So a Geta-ya is a shop that sells Geta. Geta-ya also refers to the proprietor of the shop. This section contains information on buying Geta, especially in the United States.
Men’s Geta are most commonly unfinished paulonia wood, which is medium brown. Women’s are narrower and are often finished in black or colored lacquer. A good starting place to buy Geta is JapaneseGetaShop and selected eBay listings in GetaBazaar. You’ll find a small selection of Geta, Tabi, Japan related books, video, clothing, and cooking accessories at JapaneseGetaShop online shop! This shop is created in Association with Amazon.com so you can order anything that Amazon sells.
There is always a variety of Geta on eBay. Some are auction style listings, but many have fixed prices and no bidding. Sellers are mainly located in the US and Japan.
You can buy it through the Japanese Culture Club (JCC). They have quite a variety of styles including some in larger sizes. JCC is located in Connecticut but some Geta may be shipped from Japan so may take 1-2 weeks to arrive. Mention The Geta Page in the order form comments section and they’ll deduct $3.00 from your Geta order.
Get it at Akai-Hanao-no-Jojo, the Jojo’s Red Geta Strap shop. The shop has Geta, Zori, high, low, one tooth, Menkoi (slanted front), with just about any imaginable color straps for them. The shop accepts major credit cards and has low shipping charges. Jojo the shop’s owner reads and writes excellent English so communication is no problem. Although the shop’s storefront is closed, you can still order online. Items are shipped from Japan.
Gendaiya Getaya in Sapporo Japan. They will ship to the US and will take credit card payments. Unfortunately they speak only Japanese. However they do have translation software so it is possible to deal with them by email. Use short simple sentences, about a 6 year old’s level, and you’ll do fine. Most Geta are around $30 to $60 and shipping runs around $20. In Japan it’s quite a different story. Of course Geta are not everyday wear, but there are still quite a few shops that sell them, probably a lot to tourists. Learn How To Make Japanese Wooden Shoes too!
Geta Japanese Traditional Shoes
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