mizutori creates modern Japanese wooden sandals (geta) designed for comfort and everyday wear.
Episode 6
“hitete” — Heeled Geta Born from Our Customers’ Voices
After introducing Geta Monogatari, we gradually began meeting customers face to face through department store events and exhibitions.
For a company that had long worked behind the scenes as a material processor, hearing customers’ voices directly was a completely new experience. Each conversation brought fresh insight — and inspiration.
Among the many comments we received, one request stood out, especially from women:
“Could you make geta with a little more heel?”
“I love the comfort, but I’m used to wearing heels. A bit more height would make them easier to walk in.”
“They’re perfect with denim, but when I dress up, I’d love something more elegant.”
“Heels make the silhouette look better — I want that even with geta.”
These honest voices reignited our passion for craftsmanship.
We made a decision:
To create heeled geta — while preserving the comfort that defines Geta Monogatari.
Creating Heel Geta Without Compromising Comfort
Adding a heel is not simply about increasing height.
If comfort is lost, the essence of the product disappears.
Our challenge was clear:
How could we fulfill our customers’ wishes while delivering the highest level of wearability?
Drawing on our many years of experience crafting insoles for women’s shoes, we redesigned the wooden base to be slightly slimmer than Geta Monogatari. To maintain stability, we widened the heel’s ground-contact area.
We introduced two heel heights to suit different preferences:
• 4.5 cm for reduced fatigue and everyday comfort
• 6.5 cm for a graceful, confident stride
The hanao straps were also carefully designed — slightly wider, with secure support — ensuring the foot remains comfortably held in place.
After numerous prototypes and refinements, we arrived at the ideal balance of elegance and ease.
The result is “hitete”, now one of mizutori’s most beloved designs.
Born from our customers’ wish — “This is the kind of geta I’ve been looking for” — hitete holds a special place in our story.
We invite you to experience the comfort of hitete for yourself.
