Miniature Japanese Zori Sandals – Tiny Model Footwear

 

Description

Tiny Japanese zori sandals.  These very small shoes are perfect for use with dolls or other decorative purposes.  The shoes are less than 40 years old and in fair condition with some discoloration and fading from age.

Size:
Toe to heel length: 1.8 inches (4.5 centimeters)
Weight of pair: 0.2 ounces (7 grams)

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More about traditional Japanese footwear

In a country where everyone must remove their shoes before formally entering most buildings it’s convenient to use footwear that is easy to slip on and off.  Such is the case in Japan where slip-on shoes made of straw, wood or other materials have been used for centuries.  Though the Japanese began wearing western style shoes during the late 19th century they nonetheless never lost their affection for traditional slip-on shoes such as zori and geta.  Zori and geta are similar in that both types of shoes are held in place by a thong running between the toes.  However, while zori tend to resemble modern sandals, geta on the other hand are quite distinct with the soles of the shoes being elevated several inches above the ground by two (or even one!) wooden slats called ha (literally “tooth”)”  Geta thus help raise the feet above the ground in order to protect the feet and kimono from becoming soiled.  In the past, wooden geta were especially popular with Japanese children who wore them everywhere and in any weather (geta were even used to make ice skates!).  The tradition of children and geta has survived into modern times with many Japanese kindergartens providing their students geta to wear to and from school and while at play in the schoolyard (Our little daughter Emily loves to wear her geta each day to school along with all the other kids at her kindergarten).  While most foreigners may suspect geta to be clumsy and difficult to wear I can testify to watching kids run, jump and even climb stairs with ease in old fashioned wooden geta.  Zori on the other hand are today most frequently seen on the feet of women in kimono.  Zori are normally worn with pure white toe-slotted tabi socks which together with the kimono and obi complete the traditional Japanese costume for women.  Some people believe that the popular western thong sandals (aka “flip flops”) trace their origin to the Japanese zori.  If so, then surfers and beach bums the world over owe a debt of gratitude to this very special and unique form of traditional Japanese footwear.

item code: R3S6B2-0003716
category code: (nipponkutsu)
ship code: La650