Tabi

Japanese {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} 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, {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} were originally a kind of leather shoe made from a single animal hide, as evidenced by historical usage and the earlier form of the word, {{transliteration|ja|tanbi}}, written {{lang|ja|単皮}}, with the kanji literally signifying "single hide".Nihon Kokugo Daijiten, entry for tabi available online [https://kotobank.jp/word/%E8%B6%B3%E8%A2%8B%E3%83%BB%E5%8D%98%E7%9A%AE-321805 here] (in Japanese)Dajirin, second edition, 1995Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten, fifth edition, 1997 As Japanese footwear evolved, {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} 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.Sekai Dai Hyakka Jiten, second edition, entry available online [https://kotobank.jp/word/%E8%B6%B3%E8%A2%8B-94080#E4.B8.96.E7.95.8C.E5.A4.A7.E7.99.BE.E7.A7.91.E4.BA.8B.E5.85.B8.20.E7.AC.AC.EF.BC.92.E7.89.88 here] (in Japanese) Outdoor versions of {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} 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 {{transliteration|ja|jika-tabi}} in 1922;{{cite journal |editor1-last=Jun-ichi |editor1-first=Ishikawa |title=Traditional Footwear |journal=Nipponia |date=June 15, 2002 |number=21 |url=https://web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia21/en/topic/index02.html |access-date=8 June 2021 |publisher=Tokyo Inshokan Printing Co., Ltd.}}Encyclopedia Nipponica, entry available online [https://kotobank.jp/word/地下足袋-72434#E6.97.A5.E6.9C.AC.E5.A4.A7.E7.99.BE.E7.A7.91.E5.85.A8.E6.9B.B8.28.E3.83.8B.E3.83.83.E3.83.9D.E3.83.8B.E3.82.AB.29 here] (in Japanese)Encyclopædia Britannica International, entry available online [https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%9C%B0%E4%B8%8B%E8%B6%B3%E8%A2%8B-72434#E3.83.96.E3.83.AA.E3.82.BF.E3.83.8B.E3.82.AB.E5.9B.BD.E9.9A.9B.E5.A4.A7.E7.99.BE.E7.A7.91.E4.BA.8B.E5.85.B8.20.E5.B0.8F.E9.A0.85.E7.9B.AE.E4.BA.8B.E5.85.B8 here] (in Japanese)Mypedia, entry available online [https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%9C%B0%E4%B8%8B%E8%B6%B3%E8%A2%8B-72434#E7.99.BE.E7.A7.91.E4.BA.8B.E5.85.B8.E3.83.9E.E3.82.A4.E3.83.9A.E3.83.87.E3.82.A3.E3.82.A2 here] (in Japanese)Sekai Dai Hyakka Jiten, second edition, entry available online [https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%9C%B0%E4%B8%8B%E8%B6%B3%E8%A2%8B-72434#E4.B8.96.E7.95.8C.E5.A4.A7.E7.99.BE.E7.A7.91.E4.BA.8B.E5.85.B8.20.E7.AC.AC.EF.BC.92.E7.89.88 here] (in Japanese) these are now the dominant form of outdoor {{transliteration|ja|tabi}}, and the term {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} generally refers to the indoor form.

File:Behind the Scenes of the WIPO Assemblies 2018.jpg]]

{{transliteration|ja|Tabi}} are worn by both men and women with traditional formal footwear such as zori, and sometimes the less-formal geta. {{transliteration|ja|Tabi}} are typically worn with clothing such as kimono. {{transliteration|ja|Tabi}} are sewn with a divided toe, in order to be worn with thonged footwear.{{Cite web |last=Manning |first=Emily |date=2015-11-17 |title=the weird and wonderful history of split-toe shoes |url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/7xvd3y/the-weird-and-wonderful-history-of-split-toe-shoes |access-date=2021-03-05 |website=i-D |language=en}}

Historically, most people in Japan wore {{transliteration|ja|tabi}}, 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.{{Cite web|title=Clothing|url=https://www.samurai-archives.com/clothing.html|access-date=2020-10-18|website=www.samurai-archives.com}}{{Cite book|last=Gallagher|first=John|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bPDkdaPE3aUC&q=tabi+socks|title=Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance, and Art|date=2003|publisher=Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.|isbn=978-1-85648-697-2|pages=167|language=en}} Others, such as lower-working class members of society who could not afford {{transliteration|ja|tabi}}, either did not wear them or wore boots such as {{transliteration|ja|jika-tabi}} instead.

In traditional Japanese spaces and buildings, such as Noh theatres,{{Cite web|date=2015-08-26|title=Morimoto Nohbutai - A Noh Experience|url=http://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/morimoto-nohbutai-a-noh-experience/|access-date=2021-03-05|website=Fukuoka Now|language=ja}} teahouses and for traditional stage performances, {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} must be worn, and shoes are not worn inside or on stage.

The most common color of {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} is white, which represents purity. White {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} are worn in formal situations such as tea ceremonies. Men sometimes will wear blue or black {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} for traveling.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} Colored {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} are also available, and are sometimes used in kabuki theatre as part of a character's costume,{{cite book |last=M. Shaver |first=Ruth |date=1966 |title=Kabuki Costume |edition=1st |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |isbn=978-0804816502}}{{cite book |last1=Kimino |first1=Rinko |last2=Somegorō |first2=Ichikawa |date=2017 |title=Photographic Kabuki Kaleidoscope |publisher=Shogakukan |isbn=978-4093108430}} or are worn with more casual outfits as fashion.

Traditionally, {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} are sewn from cloth cut to form.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} They are open at the back to be slipped on and have fasteners along the opening (known as {{transliteration|ja|kohaze}}) so they can be closed. {{transliteration|ja|Tabi}} sewn from stretch material without fasteners are also available.

{{main|Jika-tabi}}

One distinctive style of {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} are {{Nihongo3|{{lit|tabi that contact the ground}}|地下足袋|jika-tabi}}. Made of heavier, tougher material and often having rubber soles, {{transliteration|ja|jika-tabi}} resemble boots and are outer footwear rather than socks. Like other {{transliteration|ja|tabi}}, {{transliteration|ja|jika-tabi}} also have divided toes.

Contemporary {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} socks—socks with a separation between the big toe and the rest of the toes—are also available. This reflects the number of people who still prefer to wear zori and geta, especially during Japan's hot, humid summers.

Modern {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} occasionally have elastic openings instead of fasteners.{{Cite web|title=Traditional tabi socks let you sneak around like a modern ninja while providing maximum comfort|url=https://japantoday.com/category/features/new-products/traditional-tabi-socks-let-you-sneak-around-like-a-modern-ninja-while-providing-maximum-comfort|access-date=2021-03-05|website=Japan Today|date=14 December 2017 |language=en}}

Belgian fashion house Maison Margiela has released modern boots with a separated big toe since the late 1980s-early 1990s.{{Cite web|date=2012-11-17|title=Martin Margiela, the one and onlyMartin Margiela, the one and only|url=https://www.thefashioncommentator.com/it/2012/11/martin-margiela-one-and-only.html|access-date=2021-03-05|website=The Fashion Commentator|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2015-08-12|title=Margiela by Candlelight in S/S92|url=https://www.anothermag.com/fashion-beauty/7677/margiela-by-candlelight-in-s-s92|access-date=2021-03-05|website=AnOther|language=en}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Roy |first=Jessica |date=2023-09-07 |title=After Two Dates, Her Designer Shoes Went Missing |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/06/style/tiktok-missing-tabi-shoes.html |access-date=2023-09-09 |issn=0362-4331}}

A related item are toe socks, which have five separate compartments; these are known as {{nihongo3|five-toe socks|５本指の靴下|gohon-yubi no kutsushita}} in Japanese.

File:Theatrical costume MET CI46.9.73ef F.jpg|Cotton-paper {{transliteration|ja|tabi}}, 1700s

File:Tabi (Japan, early 20th century).jpg|Cloth {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} with ties, early 1900s

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

File:Flip-Flops socks.jpg|Knitted stretch-on {{transliteration|ja|tabi}}, no fasteners

File:足袋 (4846978908).jpg|Sheer {{transliteration|ja|tabi}}

File:Tabi 足袋 (2461775040).jpg|Woven {{transliteration|ja|tabi}}

File:Gyoda Tabi 2020-11 ac (5).jpg|Close-up of {{transliteration|ja|kohaze}}

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 {{transliteration|ja|tabi}}

File:Kutsu 1.JPG|Leather {{transliteration|ja|tabi}}, Edo period (1603–1867), precursors to modern {{transliteration|ja|jika-tabi}}

File:Kutsu 2.JPG|{{transliteration|ja|Tabi}} with reinforced hobnailed soles, Edo period

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

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

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

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

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.tabigura.net/tabihaku.html The Museum of {{transliteration|ja|Tabi}} website] {{in lang|ja}}
• [https://collection.maas.museum/object/366038 {{transliteration|ja|Tabi}} at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences]
• [https://exchange.umma.umich.edu/resources/41086/view {{transliteration|ja|Tabi}} at the University of Michigan Museum of Art]
• [https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/89005 {{transliteration|ja|Tabi}} at the Metropolitan Museum of Art]
• [https://risdmuseum.org/art-design/collection/womens-tabi-boots-2010242 Maison Martin Margiela: Women's {{transliteration|ja|tabi}} boots at the RISD Museum]

{{Japanese clothing}}

{{Footwear}}

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Category:Samurai clothing

Category:Socks

Category:Japanese footwear

Category:Japanese words and phrases