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| Harada shapes the
rubber even as we converse. He makes it look so easy,
and yet it’s a difficult job. |
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| Making geta is a multi-step
process. Approximately 100 pairs are made in four days. |
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It’s always
pleasant to hear the hollow clackety-clack of geta on
the street, isn’t it? A large producer of cedar
wood in times past, Hita City also produced many geta.
I’ve lived in Hita City for eighteen years and
this was my first time visiting a studio where they are
made. The owner of Harada Footwear Industries, Mr. Harada,
has followed the line of geta craftsman since his father’s
generation, and is also the head of the Hita Geta Union.
Since the end of World War 2, the number of houses where
geta are made has shrunk from 200 to 12. Years ago, geta
were produced from paulownia trees. However, after a
disease spread through the paulownia population, geta
then came to be made from the wood of trees cut down
to thin out the forest, and became known as “mountain
geta.” Early geta were made by hand, but gradually
machines took over, and today Hita’s geta made
from cedar and hinoki trees are shipped to markets throughout
Japan. Geta have also evolved with the changing lifestyles
of their wearers, taking on a variety of designs. These
days, geta with rubber soles, like sandals, seem to be
popular.
When making geta, the most difficult step is what’s
called “mendori,” which is when you try to
make the surface very smooth. This can be done well only
by seasoned craftsman. Geta made by Harada’s company
are distributed to various Japanese inns and souvenir
shops within Oita Prefecture. The union head’s
biggest concern today lies in the absence of successors
to the trade. “With all the geta made in China
coming in, no young person wants to do this kind of work,” he
says. It’s also a sad fact for local Hita citizens.
I have my own pair of geta, and they’re very convenient
for short walks. Geta are sold in all the souvenir shops
in Hita City, but when I find they’re made in China
it’s disappointing. The geta made in Hita are gentle
on your feet. I wish more people close by would wear
these geta in all their contemporary forms, whether it’s
the old-fashion kind, children’s size with cute
designs, or with flower-pattern designs aimed to suit
young women’s tastes. |
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Harada Footwear
Industries
Hita City, Ueno Town 163
TEL:0973-24-2989 |
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