Learn — Tabi

In the part 1, we introduce various sole design of tabi shoes for festival and taiko. Next, let's see sole design of tabi shoes for work 🥾🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♂️❗️👀

1. Work Tabi Mannen Sewn (for Civil Engineering and Construction)

It has a simple sole with less part touching the ground. It has a lot of small dots on the thumb, index, side, and heel part. It's very simple design.

• Work Tabi Mannen Sewn (12 clasps) (Black) (for Civil Engineering and Construction)
• Work Tabi Mannen Sewn (12 clasps) (Navy) (for Civil Engineering and Construction)
• Work Tabi Mannen Sewn (12 clasps) (White) (for Civil Engineering and Construction)
• Work Tabi Mannen Sewn (7 clasps) (White) (for Civil Engineering and Construction)

2. Work Tabi Majik Safety (for Civil Engineering and Construction)

It has a slip-resistant sole with a lot of small dots on the thumb, index, side, and heel part. This sole design is good for steeplejack work, too. Hard toe guard protects your feet from shock and pressure. 

• Work Tabi Majik Safety (Velcro Tape) (Black) (for Civil Engineering and Construction)
• Work Tabi Majik Safety (Velcro Tape) (Navy) (for Civil Engineering and Construction)

3. Work Tabi Pro Guard Fastener (for Civil Engineering, Construction, and Steeplejack)

It has a slip-resistant sole with a lot of small dots on the thumb, index, side, and heel part. This sole design is good for steeplejack work, too. Hard toe guard protects your feet from shock and pressure. 

• Work Tabi Pro Guard Fastener (Zipper) (Navy) (for Civil Engineering, Construction, and Steeplejack)

4. Work Tabi Pro Guard Jog (for Civil Engineering, Construction, and Steeplejack)

It has a unique sole design with a lot of block on the whole part and layered diamond pattern on the inner part.  It's slip-resistant and shock absorbing function. This sole design is good for steeplejack work, too. Hard toe guard protects your feet from shock and pressure. 

• Work Tabi Pro Guard Jog (12 clasps) (Navy) (for Civil Engineering, Construction, and Steeplejack)

5. Work Tabi Pro Guard Mannen (for Civil Engineering, Construction, and Steeplejack)

It has a slip-resistant sole with a lot of small dots on the thumb, index, side, and heel part. This sole design is good for steeplejack work, too. Hard toe guard protects your feet from shock and pressure. 

• Work Tabi Pro Guard Mannen (10 clasps) (Navy) (for Civil Engineering, Construction, and Steeplejack)
• Work Tabi Pro Guard Mannen (12 clasps) (Navy) (for Civil Engineering, Construction, and Steeplejack)
• Work Tabi Pro Guard Mannen (12 clasps) (White) (for Civil Engineering, Construction, and Steeplejack)
• Work Tabi Pro Guard Mannen (12 clasps) (Black) (for Civil Engineering, Construction, and Steeplejack)
• Work Tabi Pro Guard Mannen (7 clasps) (Navy) (for Civil Engineering, Construction, and Steeplejack)

6. Work Tabi Pro Guard Rain #01 (for Civil Engineering and Construction)

It has a simple sole design that has a lot of lines with low steps and zig-zag patterns. It's made of waterproof rubber and good for civil engineering and construction. Hard toe guard protects your feet from shock and pressure. 

• Work Tabi Pro Guard Rain #01 (Zipper) (for Civil Engineering and Construction)

7. Work Tabi Jitsuyou (for Civil Engineering and Agriculture)

It has a durable thick sole with big zig-zag pattern and small dots on the toe part and heel part. It's good for civil engineering and agriculture. 

• Work Tabi Jitsuyou (12 clasps) (Black) (for Civil Engineering and Agriculture)
• Work Tabi Jitsuyou (5 clasps) (Black) (for Civil Engineering and Agriculture)
• Work Tabi Jitsuyou (3 clasps) (Black) (for Civil Engineering and Agriculture)

8. Work Tabi Kaisoku (for Civil Engineering and Agriculture)

It has a slip-resistant sole with a lot of wave shape pattern and line with low steps. It's good for civil engineering and agriculture. 

• Work Tabi Kaisoku (12 clasps) (Black) (for Civil Engineering and Agriculture)
• Work Tabi Kaisoku (10 clasps) (Black) (for Civil Engineering and Agriculture)
• Work Tabi Kaisoku (5 clasps) (Black) (for Civil Engineering and Agriculture)

9. Work Shoes Sakimaru (for Civil Engineering and Agriculture)

It has a slip-resistant sole with a lot of wave shape pattern and line with low steps. It's good for civil engineering and agriculture. 

• Work Shoes Sakimaru (5 clasps) (Black) (for Civil Engineering and Agriculture)
• Work Shoes Sakimaru (Velcro Fastener) (Navy) (for Civil Engineering and Agriculture)

10. Work Tabi Jog Jika (for Civil Engineering and Construction)

It has a slip-resistant sole with a lot of wave shape pattern. It's good for civil engineering and construction. Also, it's popular among gardener. 

• Work Tabi Jog Jika (12 clasps) (Navy) (for Civil Engineering and Construction)

11. Work Tabi Pro Guard Spike (for Forest Work)

It has a lot of steel pin on the whole part to dig your feet firmly on the steep hill when you climb mountain. It's good for forest work. Hard toe guard protects your feet from shock and pressure. 

• Work Tabi Pro Guard Spike (8 clasps) (Black) (for Forest Work)

12. Work Tabi Spike Type 2 (for Forest Work)

It has a lot of steel pin on the whole part to dig your feet firmly on the steep hill when you climb mountain. It's good for forest work.

• Work Tabi Spike Type 2 (8 clasps) (Black) (for Forest Work)
• Work Tabi Spike Type 2 (Velcro Fastener) (Black) (for Forest Work)

😚Thank you for reading this to the end. Please feel free to ask any questions or leave any comments😉

There are many kind of tabi (ninja shoes) but they look almost same, don't they? You may think why the price changes according to them and don't know what to choose. Sole design is important as well as the material and production method. Let's take a look 🥾🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♂️❗️👀

1. Festival Tabi

It has a simple sole pattern with a lot of allow shape on the middle part and small dots and lines on the finger and heel part. Compared to slip-resistant tabi, it is thinner and lighter sole. 

• Festival Tabi (6 clasps) (Black)
• Festival Tabi (6 clasps) (White)
• Festival Tabi (12 clasps) (Black)
• Festival Tabi (12 clasps) (White)

2. Tabi Air-Insole V

It has an obviously slip-resistant sole design with a lot of wave shape lines on the whole part. According to the maker, the slip-resistant quality is improved 15% from the conventional one. Also, it is comfortable with an arch support and a big air cushion. Over 31cm sizes are available, too. 

• Tabi Air Insole V (6 clasps) (Black)
• Tabi Air Insole V (6 clasps) (White)
• Tabi Air Insole V (6 clasps) (Navy)
• Tabi Air Insole V (12 clasps) (Black)
• Tabi Air Insole V (12 clasps) (White)

3. Kurashikiya Tabi Saiki

It has a cool and slip-resistant sole design with distinctive cross lines and zigzag patterns. As the air cushion appears on the sole, it has quality cushion function. But, the air cushion doesn't appear from the side to look it stylish (it would depend on the preference of people).  Also, relatively thinner sole looks stylish and it has a slip resistance with a newly developed rubber sole. 

• Kurashikiya Tabi Saiki (7 clasps) (Black)
• Kurashikiya Tabi Saiki (7 clasps) (White)

4. Kurashikiya Tabi Saibu

It is one of our popular tabi shoes and has a lot of medium-size dots on the whole part and wave shape patterns on the outer part. It has a barefoot feeling and fits your foot well. Also, it has a shock absorber inside the heel part.

• Kurashikiya Tabi Saibu (7 clasps) (Black)
• Kurashikiya Tabi Saibu (7 clasps) (White)

5. Kurashikiya Tabi Saisui

As well as the sole of Festival Tabi, it has a simple sole pattern with a lot of allow shape on the middle part and small dots and lines on the finger and heel part. Also, it's comfortable to wear with a functional air cushion insole and fits your feet well. The sole is black for black tabi that suits black festival costumes well.  

• Kurashikiya Tabi Saisui (7 clasps) (Black)
• Kurashikiya Tabi Saisui (7 clasps) (White)

6. Saisou Fastener (Zipper)

It has a beautiful and slip-resistant square pattern with a lot of smaller arrow and bigger arrow shapes. Also, it has a cup-insole with an arch support and fits your feet well. It's comfortable with a thick cushion insole, too. Zipper is used instead of clasps and it's easier to wear than other tabi shoes. 

• Saisou Fastener (Zipper) (Black)
• Saisou Fastener (Zipper) (White)

7. Tabi Air-Insole III

It is the most slip-resistant tabi with a lot of s-shaped patterns. This sole is extremely slip-resistant and called "ultra sole". Even on the wet ground, it's hard to slip and good for runnning, too. Also, it's comfortable with a shock absorbing air cushion and an arch support. 

• Tabi Air-Insole III (6 clasps) (Black)
• Tabi Air-Insole III (6 clasps) (White)
• Tabi Air-Insole III (12 clasps) (Black)
• Tabi Air-Insole III (12 clasps) (White)

8. Matsuri Air Sewn

It has a simple sole with less part touching the ground. It has a lot of small dots on the thumb, index, side, and heel part. It's very simple design. It's comfortable with shock absorbing air insole though the sole is thinner. 

• Matsuri Air Sewn (5 clasps) (White)
• Matsuri Air Sewn (5 clasps) (Navy)

9. Matsuri Jog Tabi

It has a slip-resistant sole with a lot of wave shape pattern. As its name suggests, it's popular among matsuri (festival in Japanese) people. It's comfortable with a relatively thick sole and cushion. 

• Matsuri Jog Tabi (6 clasps) (Black)
• Matsuri Jog Tabi (6 clasps) (White)
• Matsuri Jog Tabi (6 clasps) (Navy)
• Matsuri Jog Tabi (12 clasps) (Black)
• Matsuri Jog Tabi (12 clasps) (White)

😚Thank you for reading this to the end. Please feel free to ask any questions or leave any comments😉

Tabi is one of the traditional Japanese split-toed footwear as known as ninja shoes / boots. It's said that the history of Japanese footwear like tabi can be dated back to 10th century and the present tabi which clasps are used to fasten can be dated back to 19th century. It was worn by samurai warriors and becoming popular among citizens as times went on. In these days, it's often worn by construction workers and forest workers. Besides, various types of tabi shoes have been developed. There are specially made tabi shoes for festivals, dances,  taiko performances, and even for running. Although it's not close to the modern people, this comfortable footwear is really recommended. Let's see how to wear it.

1. Tabi Shoe Size Conversion (JP / US-Men's / US-Women's / UK / EUR)

Please Note:

*Approximate size conversion
*Tabi is tight shoes/boots. We recommend to choose half-size bigger one.

2. How to Put on Tabi Shoes

The following is the general mothod of wearing tabi shoes. Please enjoy wearing with your own method if you get used to.

Steps:

1. Wear tabi socks or toe socks

   Please put on two-toed socks or put off socks (barefoot) when you wear jika-tabi.

   

2. Slide your foot into the tabi shoes grasping it

   Pulling opening of the tabi, slide foot into the tabi until the sole touches the tabi sole.

   

3. Arrange fitting

   In a casual position (ex: crossing a leg), arrange fitting of tabi around foot by pulling it. The angle of the ankle should be 90 degree.

   

4. Place the kohaze (metal tabs) into the correct cotton hooks

   Start from clasp close to ankle, and hook left into loops in order.

   

5. Done

   Walk and check if the loosen part is left or not. If it's loosen, hook clasps again.

   

Note:
Metal fastener is called kohaze (clasp). It's fastened by hooking it into loop. The number of the kohaze is different according to the length of the shoes / boots.

3. How to Choose Tabi Shoes

There are a lot of types of tabi shoes for various use and different function and design. At first glance, it looks like all same shape and design but the tabi maker makes the functional and cool tabi shoes for various use. Please pick　the best tabi you'd like.

Note:
Different tabi have different shape / design of outsole.

Function:

• Outsole

  Some comfortable tabi has thick outsole. So it reduces the fatigue, it's recommended to wear for outside activity. Other has thinner outsole that has barefoot feeling. Another has unique shape of outsole and it helps to stand firm on the ground.

• Insole

  Comfortable insole has shock absorption and air cushion. Some tabi has arch suport and reduces the fatigue

• Upper

  Upper part is made of the breathable cotton and synthetic fiber. It makes feel more comfortable to put on. 

Design:

• Looks

  Some tabi has not only the high quality function but the good design. For festivals and performances, the appearances are important. Tabi maker also develops the slip-on like tabi shoes for casual users.

4. How to Care Tabi Shoes

How to wash:

Hand wash with water or hot water below 30 degree Celsius rinse thoroughly after removing dirt. Using a detergent, etc. may cause discoloration or color transfer.

How to dry:

Please dry in a well-ventilated shade avoiding direct sunlight and high temperature.

How to store:

After use, take water and dirt, avoid high temperature, humidity, direct sunlight, please keep in a well-ventilated place.

Check Taiko Center's Tabi Shoes

Tabi Shoes (Ninja Shoes)

Related Articles

Tabi is one of the essential items for Matsuri, Japanese festival.  See also this article.  14 Types of Traditional Japanese Festival Clothing

Are you interested in custom name item? See also this article.  Let's Make Custom Name Print Happi Coat

Are you interested in traditional Japanese costume and pattern? See also this article.  31 Best Japanese Patterns (Wagara) on Happi

😚Thank you for reading this to the end. Please feel free to ask any questions or leave any comments😉