thumb|Pair of |alt=A pair of white tabi. Tabi are traditional Japanese socks with split-toe construction.

are traditional Japanese socks worn with thonged footwear such as zori, dating back to the 15th century.

History

Japanese are usually understood today to be a kind of split-toed sock that is not meant to be worn alone outdoors, much like regular socks. However, were originally a kind of leather shoe made from an animal hide, as evidenced by historical usage and the earlier form of the word, , written , with the kanji literally signifying "single hide". As Japanese footwear evolved, also changed, with the split-toe design emerging towards the late Heian period (794–1185 CE) to allow the wearer to accommodate the thong of sandals. Outdoor versions of involved some kind of reinforcement, with soles traditionally made of cloth, leather, or straw.

Brothers Tokujirō Ishibashi and Shōjirō Ishibashi, founders of the tyre company Bridgestone, are credited with the invention of rubber-soled in 1922; these are now the dominant form of outdoor , and the term generally refers to the indoor form.

Use

thumb| being worn with [[Geta (footwear)|geta|alt=A close-up of a person wearing patterned kimono, white tabi, and tall geta.]]

are worn by both men and women with traditional formal footwear such as zori, and sometimes the less-formal geta. are typically worn with clothing such as kimono. are sewn with a divided toe, in order to be worn with thonged footwear.

Historically, most people in Japan wore , as most Japanese footwear was thonged; however, some, such as upper-class courtesans and the geisha of Fukagawa, did not wear them, as the bare foot was considered to be erotic in Japanese culture. Others, such as lower-working class members of society who could not afford , either did not wear them or wore boots such as instead.

In traditional Japanese spaces and buildings, such as Noh theatres, teahouses and for traditional stage performances, must be worn, and shoes are not worn inside or on stage.

Styles

The most common color of is white, which represents purity. White are worn in formal situations such as tea ceremonies. Men sometimes will wear blue or black for traveling. Colored are also available, and are sometimes used in kabuki theatre as part of a character's costume, or are worn with more casual outfits as fashion.

Traditionally, are sewn from cloth cut to form. They are open at the back to be slipped on and have fasteners along the opening (known as ) so they can be closed. sewn from stretch material without fasteners are also available.

One distinctive style of are .

Belgian fashion house Maison Margiela has released modern boots with a separated big toe since the late 1980s-early 1990s. They can cost more than $1000 per pair. In 2023, the story of a man stealing a pair of tabi shoes from his Tinder date was amplified by TikTok and other social media sites.

A related item are toe socks, which have five separate compartments; these are known as in Japanese.

<gallery mode="packed">

File:Theatrical costume MET CI46.9.73ef F.jpg|alt=A pair of white cotton tabi, 1700s|Cotton , 1700s

File:Tabi (Japan, early 20th century).jpg|Cloth with ties, early 1900s

File:Japanese socks,shiro-tabi,gyoda-city,japan.JPG|Modern with hook-and-loop fasteners

File:Flip-Flops socks.jpg|Knitted stretch-on , no fasteners

File:足袋 (4846978908).jpg|Sheer

File:Tabi 足袋 (2461775040).jpg|alt=Black tabi|Woven

File:Gyoda Tabi 2020-11 ac (5).jpg|alt=Close-up photo of kohaze (metal clasps), used to fasten tabi.|Close-up of

File:４．「おさえ」工程専用のミシンGyoda Tabi.jpg|Sewing the loops

File:Gyoda Tabi 2020-10 ac (2).jpg|Brightly patterned

File:Kutsu 1.JPG|<!-- What does 'kutsu' mean?: Kutsu,-->Leather , Edo period (1603–1867), precursors to modern

File:Kutsu 2.JPG| with reinforced hobnailed soles, Edo period

File:Weighing a Basket in Japan (1912 by Elstner Hilton).jpg|Farmworkers wearing outdoor , 1912

File:Marathon Tabi from Idaten.jpg|Early 20th century cloth-soled boots (reconstruction of 1912 marathon )

File:Showing Off His Catch on the river in Japan (1915 by Elstner Hilton).jpg|A fisherman wearing with sewn-on woven-straw soles, 1915

File:Tabi shoes modern (margiela).png|Modern tabi boots designed by Maison Margiela

</gallery>

References

  • The Museum of website
  • at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences
  • at the University of Michigan Museum of Art
  • at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Maison Martin Margiela: Women's boots at the RISD Museum