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{{Image|Geta.jpg|right|150px|Two-'toothed' ''geta''.}}
A '''geta''' (下駄) is a kind of [[Japan|Japanese]] [[shoe]] with a flat [[wood]]en sole (台 ''dai'' 'stand') raised by one or more 'teeth' (歯 ''ha''). The [[foot]] holds the ''geta'' between the [[toe]]s via a [[V]]-shaped length of [[fabric]] (鼻緒, ''hanao''). They are often worn to accompany Japanese robes such as a [[kimono]] or a ''[[yukata]]'', particularly in [[summer]], sometimes with traditional [[ankle]]-high toe [[sock]]s called ''tabi'' (足袋). Both [[man|men]] and [[woman|women]] as well as [[child]]ren may wear ''geta'', with the design slightly adapted for [[age]] and [[sex]].
A '''geta''' (下駄) is a kind of [[Japan|Japanese]] [[shoe]] with a flat [[wood]]en sole (台 ''dai'' 'stand') raised by one or more 'teeth' (歯 ''ha''). The [[foot]] holds the ''geta'' between the [[toe]]s via a [[V]]-shaped length of [[fabric]] (鼻緒, ''hanao''). They are often worn to accompany Japanese robes such as a [[kimono]] or a ''[[yukata]]'', particularly in [[summer]], sometimes with traditional [[ankle]]-high toe [[sock]]s called ''tabi'' (足袋). Both [[man|men]] and [[woman|women]] as well as [[child]]ren may wear ''geta'', with the design slightly adapted for [[age]] and [[sex]].


[[Image:tengu-geta.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Traditional ''tengu-geta'' shoes can be seen at festivals.<BR><small>Photo © by Sonny Santos, used by [[Image_talk:tengu-geta.jpg/Permission|permission]].</small>]]
Wearing ''geta'' obviously make reaching a speedy pace rather difficult; this is even more so with ''tengu-geta'' (天狗下駄),<ref>''Tengu'' (天狗) are a kind of [[goblin]] in Japanese [[mythology]].</ref> which have only one 'tooth'; these can resemble miniature [[stilts]]. Raised ''geta'' may also act to keep the feet clean and dry, and ''tengu-geta'' are sometimes used in [[mountain climbing]].
Wearing ''geta'' obviously make reaching a speedy pace rather difficult; this is even more so with ''tengu-geta'' (天狗下駄),<ref>''Tengu'' (天狗) are a kind of [[goblin]] in Japanese [[mythology]].</ref> which have only one 'tooth'; these can resemble miniature [[stilts]]. Raised ''geta'' may also act to keep the feet clean and dry, and ''tengu-geta'' are sometimes used in [[mountain climbing]].


When choosing ''geta'', the Japanese may consider that the wooden ''dai'' should be slightly smaller the wearer's overall footprint; they will also tell you that wearing ''geta'' avoids [[flat feet]] and various other problems.<ref>See ''karankoron.com'' for tips on geta-wearing; apparently, the owner supplied footwear for the [[film]] ''[[Memoirs of a Geisha]]''</ref>
When choosing ''geta'', the Japanese may consider that the wooden ''dai'' should be slightly smaller the wearer's overall footprint; they will also tell you that wearing ''geta'' avoids [[flat feet]] and various other problems.<ref>See ''karankoron.com'' for tips on geta-wearing; apparently, the owner supplied footwear for the [[film]] ''[[Memoirs of a Geisha]]''</ref>


''Geta'' are easy to slip on and off; this is important in Japan, where shoes are generally removed on entering a home, and are forbidden on [[tatami]] (畳) mats. Outdoors, they make a distinctive 'clacking' sound on hard surfaces unless [[rubber]] padding is fixed to the bottom of the 'teeth'; this sound is such a part of [[Culture of Japan|Japanese culture]] that an [[onomatopoeia|onomatopoeic]]  [[word]] exists in [[Japanese language|Japanese]] to describe it: ''karankoron'' (カランコロン). In some cases, wearers may even use strips of old [[bicycle]] [[tyre]]s to soften ''karankoron''.
''Geta'' are easy to slip on and off; this is important in Japan, where shoes are generally removed on entering a home, and are forbidden on [[tatami]] (畳) mats. The city of [[Kaminoyama]] (上山) in [[Yamagata prefecture]] (山形県 ''Yamagata-ken'') has an annual ''geta''-flicking contest (げた飛ばし大会 ''Geta Tobashi Taikai'') in which competitors try to throw ''geta'' the furthest with a flick of the foot. Outdoors, they make a distinctive 'clacking' sound on hard surfaces unless [[rubber]] padding is fixed to the bottom of the 'teeth'; this sound is such a part of [[Culture of Japan|Japanese culture]] that an [[onomatopoeia|onomatopoeic]]  [[word]] exists in [[Japanese language|Japanese]] to describe it: ''karankoron'' (カランコロン). In some cases, wearers may even use strips of old [[bicycle]] [[tyre]]s to soften ''karankoron''.


==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
<div class="references-2column">
{{reflist|2}}
<references/>
</div>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Culture of Japan]]
*[[Culture of Japan]][[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]
 
==External links==
*[http://www.karankoron.com/online_shop_geta.html Akai-Hanao-no-Jojo] - online shop with advice for choosing, buying and measuring for ''geta''
 
[[Category: Anthropology Workgroup]]
[[Category: CZ Live]]

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Two-'toothed' geta.

A geta (下駄) is a kind of Japanese shoe with a flat wooden sole (台 dai 'stand') raised by one or more 'teeth' (歯 ha). The foot holds the geta between the toes via a V-shaped length of fabric (鼻緒, hanao). They are often worn to accompany Japanese robes such as a kimono or a yukata, particularly in summer, sometimes with traditional ankle-high toe socks called tabi (足袋). Both men and women as well as children may wear geta, with the design slightly adapted for age and sex.

Traditional tengu-geta shoes can be seen at festivals.
Photo © by Sonny Santos, used by permission.

Wearing geta obviously make reaching a speedy pace rather difficult; this is even more so with tengu-geta (天狗下駄),[1] which have only one 'tooth'; these can resemble miniature stilts. Raised geta may also act to keep the feet clean and dry, and tengu-geta are sometimes used in mountain climbing.

When choosing geta, the Japanese may consider that the wooden dai should be slightly smaller the wearer's overall footprint; they will also tell you that wearing geta avoids flat feet and various other problems.[2]

Geta are easy to slip on and off; this is important in Japan, where shoes are generally removed on entering a home, and are forbidden on tatami (畳) mats. The city of Kaminoyama (上山) in Yamagata prefecture (山形県 Yamagata-ken) has an annual geta-flicking contest (げた飛ばし大会 Geta Tobashi Taikai) in which competitors try to throw geta the furthest with a flick of the foot. Outdoors, they make a distinctive 'clacking' sound on hard surfaces unless rubber padding is fixed to the bottom of the 'teeth'; this sound is such a part of Japanese culture that an onomatopoeic word exists in Japanese to describe it: karankoron (カランコロン). In some cases, wearers may even use strips of old bicycle tyres to soften karankoron.

Footnotes

  1. Tengu (天狗) are a kind of goblin in Japanese mythology.
  2. See karankoron.com for tips on geta-wearing; apparently, the owner supplied footwear for the film Memoirs of a Geisha

See also