mizutori creates modern Japanese wooden sandals (geta) designed for comfort and everyday wear.
What Is mizutori?
Episode 62
Our Family's Little Tradition at Summer Festivals
Summer in Japan
brings fireworks,
neighborhood festivals,
and lively evening markets.
It's the season
when many people
head out
wearing yukata
or jinbei.
What do you wear
to events like these?
Some people
look forward to the occasion
as the perfect excuse
to wear geta.
Others choose
comfortable sandals,
hoping their feet
will stay happy
through an evening
of walking and celebrating.
Everyone has
their own way
of enjoying summer.
As for me,
I don't really think of geta
as something
to wear only
on special occasions.
I wear them
almost every day.
So when I go
to a summer festival,
I'm simply wearing
what I always wear.
But these summer events
hold a special little pleasure
just for me.
I love
spotting people
wearing mizutori geta.
Summer festivals
are one of the few times
when so many people
are wearing geta.
I can't help wondering
what outfit
they've paired them with,
or noticing
the smile on their face
as they walk.
Seeing that
has become
one of my favorite parts
of summer.
These days,
it's becoming more common
to see people
wearing platform sandals
or even sneakers
with yukata.
I think
that's wonderful, too.
It's always fun
to see
the different ways
people wear
their yukata.
And yet,
whenever I see
someone wearing geta
with a yukata,
I always find myself thinking,
"This is Japanese summer."
The gentle sound
of wooden soles,
the swaying hem
of a yukata,
even if the geta
aren't ours—
there's something
comforting,
familiar,
and quietly beautiful
about that scene.
I've loved it
ever since I was young.
And then,
every once in a while,
I spot them.
"Oh—
those are ours."
That moment
never stops feeling
special.
Our whole family
has developed
a rather unusual talent.
After making geta
for so many years,
we've become
surprisingly good
at recognizing
the sound
of mizutori geta.
One of us will suddenly say,
"Did you hear that?"
The three of us—
my husband,
my son,
and I—
look at each other,
then immediately
start looking around.
"Was it that person?"
"There they are!"
It's almost like
a treasure hunt
through the crowd.
Once we find them,
the conversation
always begins.
"That obi
matches the hanao perfectly."
"Her nail color
looks beautiful
with those geta."
Without even realizing it,
we start admiring
the little details.
Of course,
we enjoy
the fireworks
and the festival stalls.
But for our family,
this little game
of spotting mizutori
has become
one of the happiest parts
of every summer festival.
To anyone watching,
we probably look
like a rather unusual family.
But seeing someone
wearing a pair of geta
that we made
with such care—
there's almost
nothing
that makes us happier.
To think
that somewhere
in someone's memories
of a summer festival,
a pair of mizutori geta
was there too...
That thought
fills my heart
every time.
So this summer,
if you happen to see
a family
walking through a festival,
looking down
at everyone's feet
more than the fireworks—
there's a good chance
it's us.
And if you hear
someone quietly say,
"Look...
they're wearing mizutori."
please know
that, in that moment,
the pair you're wearing
has given
our family
a little encouragement.
This summer,
once again,
I'll be looking forward
to those little encounters
as I head out
to another festival.
