mizutori creates modern Japanese wooden sandals (geta) designed for comfort and everyday wear.
What Is mizutori?
Episode 59
The Unexpected Comfort of Geta in Summer
Recently,
I was watching
a morning television program
featuring recommended sandals
for the hot summer season.
Now that Japan's rainy season has ended
and the real summer heat has arrived,
many of us naturally begin looking
for footwear
that feels as cool
and comfortable as possible.
The program introduced
all kinds of sandals—
ones that let your feet breathe,
ones that are lightweight,
ones you can slip on
without bending down,
and even recovery sandals
designed to help tired feet relax.
As someone
who also makes footwear,
I found the program
fascinating.
Each design
had its own thoughtful ideas,
and I found myself thinking,
"That's clever."
But as I watched,
I also found myself thinking,
"I wish they had included geta."
Of course,
most people
would not think of geta
as sandals.
And yet,
long before the word "sandal"
became common in Japan,
geta were already part
of everyday life.
For generations,
they helped people stay comfortable
through Japan's long,
hot,
humid summers.
As each new sandal
was introduced on the program,
I kept thinking,
"Geta have many of these qualities too."
Because they do not cover the whole foot,
they stay cool
and well ventilated.
Because they are held in place
only by the hanao strap,
your toes remain free
to move naturally
as you walk.
When your feet become tired,
you can simply ease them
slightly out of the strap
for a moment,
letting them rest
before slipping them back in.
And because there are no laces
or buckles,
you can easily slip them on
or off
while standing.
Today,
there are countless styles of geta,
just as there are
many different kinds of sandals.
Perhaps these are exactly the qualities
that deserve to be rediscovered,
especially now,
as summers grow hotter each year.
Another unique pleasure of geta
is the feeling
of natural materials
against bare feet.
When you place your feet
on a wooden geta,
the wood feels pleasantly cool
in summer,
while in winter
it never feels
as cold as you might expect.
That quiet comfort
is one reason
geta have suited
Japan's changing seasons
for so many generations.
Perhaps that is also why,
even today,
surrounded by so many kinds
of modern footwear,
people continue
to choose them.
The television program
also highlighted
lightweight footwear
as one of the most important qualities
in summer footwear.
And certainly,
many people assume
that lighter
always means
more comfortable.
But in reality,
comfortable walking
depends on much more
than weight alone.
mizutori's geta,
made from mahogany,
may feel
slightly heavier
when you first pick them up.
But once you choose
the correct size,
and the hanao strap
is adjusted
to fit your feet properly,
the geta begin to feel
like a natural extension
of your feet.
At that point,
most people
hardly notice
their weight at all.
In fact,
a little weight
can provide
greater stability,
making them
more stable
and comfortable
to walk in.
That is one reason
we carefully adjust
the hanao straps
for each customer.
Of course,
modern materials
and new technologies
continue to create
wonderful new kinds
of footwear.
We learn from them
every day.
This is not about saying
that geta
are better than sandals.
Rather,
each has
its own strengths.
We simply hope
more people will discover
that geta,
too,
offer a kind of comfort
that fits naturally
into modern life.
This summer,
when you are choosing
what to wear
on your feet,
we hope
one of the options
that comes to mind
will be
geta—
Japan's traditional footwear.
We hope
mizutori's geta
can help make
your summer outings
just a little
more comfortable—
starting from your feet.
