Geta are traditional Japanese sandals made of a wooden base with two risers and a padded strap. They are worn with traditional or Western clothing and have a thong called hanao. Geta are made of kiri wood and can have rubber or vinyl soles. They are worn with yukata and are not to be confused with zori.
A geta is a traditional-style Japanese sandal worn by both women and men. There are many variations on the geta sandal; however, a classic geta is made up of a wooden base with two risers at the bottom and a padded strap secured to the base in three places. Geta can be worn with traditional Japanese clothing or Western-style casual clothing.
There are three basic parts to a geta. The wooden base is called “dai”, which means “support”. The risers on the dai plant are called “ha,” which means “teeth.” The thong is called “hanao,” which means “thong” or “thong.”
Geta are generally carved from a single block of wood that includes both the dai and the ha. Three holes are drilled for attaching the hanao to the dai: one at the front and two at the back. The traditional wood for geta is kiri, the lightweight hardwood of the paulownia tree indigenous to Southeast Asia. The wood may be unfinished, or it may be stained or lacquered. A layer of rubber or vinyl can be attached to the soles to protect the wood from wear and tear.
The hanao is traditionally made of quilted cotton or silk cloth, which is often printed with Japanese-style patterns. Hanao can also be made of leather or vinyl. The outer material is sewn into a tube and filled with a thick cord made of hemp, cotton or synthetic materials. The strings of the hanao are attached to the wooden dai by passing them through the holes and securing them at the bottom with special knots. The hanao thong is worn between the first and second toes.
The Geta vary greatly in shape and size. The dai can be square or rounded at the corners. The tines can be very high, especially for use in wet or snowy weather. Some geta have a large, single, V-shaped tooth, and some modern designs have thick, contoured soles in place of teeth.
Geta are traditionally worn with the informal cotton robes called “yukata” and should not be confused with the more formal zori, which is worn with a kimono. According to tradition, they are also worn by novice sumo wrestlers and geishas in training. Geta makes a clicking noise on a hard walking surface, a noise many consider nostalgic. Wooden sushi boards with risers are also called geta due to their resemblance to sandals.
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