Various types of tabi

-Leather Tabi-

The original tabi is made of a tanning leather. cotton tabi hasn't exist until the early Edo period. Leather Tabi is durable and flexible. So that the samurai used them for hunting and war. But as the end of the war, tabi was worn as a generally dress.


-White tabi-

White tabi is used for the official site and each event such as congratulatory or condolence. Characteristics of white tabi is worn from casual to formal in the extensive.

Monks, master of ceremonial tea, Noh/Kabuki actors wearing a white tabi. These people are can be called collectively "white tabi". this naming is same like a white colore or blue color workers.
Furthermore, It is required to wear white tabi at noh stage and japanese archery fields. Also people are allowed to wear only white tabi in the SUMO wrestling ring.



-Black tabi-

Black tabi was only worn for casual clothing for men. It is sayed black tabi have invented to obscure the stain.

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Origin of TABI

It is not clear that the origin of tabi. However, the origin has a few theories. One theory, the development of dress socks that were worn by aristocrats in the Nara period (710-794).Another theory is in Heian period (794-1185), the footwear with the fingers which made from bear or deer skins.
thoes were wearing by hunteres. The initial prototype of the tabi has a string which was stitched to the ankle.

It is said that TABI which made of cotton was born in the Edo period. A fire happened in 1657, Which led to a shortage of leather and raised the price of leather. It is cause a rapid spread of cotton tabi.

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what's JIKA TABI ?

Jika tabi is work shoes for labors.whichi has rubber soles, To walking on the ground directly without shoes.

Jikatabi is used by farmers, forestry, carpenter, And used by people who Shoulder portable shrines at shrine festivals,

Jika tabi was invented by Tokujiro Ishibashi in 1923. "Nihon tabi" and Subsidiary named "Asahi jikatabi" started selling first Jika tabi in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture.
thoes company is owned by Tokujiro Ishibashi.

Jita tabi was first popular in coal mine foreman, was spread throughout the country.

Ishibashi Shojiro, the younger brother of Tokujiro effect management of "Nihon tabi".
The Bridgestone tires is founded and developed by Shojiro.

about JIKA TABI

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What is TABI?

What is TABI?

TABI is unique traditional Japanese clothing. tabi is made of cotton fabric in general thease days.

TABI is worn as a socks to wear Japanese traditional sandals called GETA or SETTA. It is a footwear like a flip-flop made of wood or straw.

It is called JIKA-TABI, which is pasted a rubber soles on the bottom of the tabi.

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