WHY DID GETA DISAPPEAR?
Japan has received a huge wave of westernized products including apparel,
foods, and housing over the past 100 years. I think the Japanese have been
clever in their use of both western and domestic original cultures. In the
world of Chinaware, Chopstick, Tatami mats, Toilet seats, and even wedding
ceremonies are combined well enjoying both western and Japanese products and
culture. However, despite being comfortable and wonderful footwear, Geta
have virtually disappeared.
In my memory, most Japanese used Geta until 40 years ago, and up to 30 years
ago, Geta was still popular as footwear in high school kids. Many famous
folks love to wear Geta. There is a picture showing our former prime
minister Tanaka dressed in a suit and tie but wearing Geta, feeding $4
millions Koi. He has vast land in his garden and some of the area was
unpaved; this may be the reason why he was wearing Geta.
In his book, "Nihon no banka", writer Miyamoto wrote that in losing the
Geta, he felt that we lost time, dirt, and Nihon (Japan). In today's world,
we wear uncomfortable socks and shoes which cause fungus in feet. I believe
that the prime reason for losing Geta is that we lost dirt and turned to
paved roads everywhere. When you wear Geta on a paved surface, you lose any
cushion and you make noise with each step, and so feel embarrassed. The Geta
industry lost out as they failed to develop new products to accommodate
paved surfaces.
WALKING AND FOOTWEAR
I take walks often. I assume that many great men in the world, who created
great things such as music like Beethoven, were in the habit of taking
walks. Jogging has a clear objective in mind to exercise the body, but
taking a walk often has no clear objective (but also exercises body and
mind). In our daily lives, we may have to speak our positions, or take a
stand on something. We may often speak as a father, or as a director of a
company, and then we may justify in our own minds what we have said. Often
we may become confused as to whether what we have said is justifiable, or we
may unreasonably insist on our own position and thereby confuse ourselves. I
believe taking walks is to have free time in our inner life, to reflect.
Free time does not belong to any specific objective, except enjoyment.
During such time we may relax and reflect on the problems of our lives or
the condition of our society; from such thinking is born true creativity. Our society is always moving in a direction of more control and more
organization, and individuals face an increasingly competitive environment.
If one follows this pace, one will lose individuality, so your own idle time
is very important. It is ideal to wear Geta, and take a walk, and I believe
Geta and dirt combine very well.
When I play Pachinco (a little ball game on which one gambles) I become a
vacuum in my own mind. In the beginning, I figure out how much I will spend,
or how I will make money, or I may lose money. However I begin to feel
careless about making or losing money, and my thoughts turn to a vacuum.
Then I happen to come up with a creative idea.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SNEAKER AND GATA
Even sick people, if you wear sneakers, show off a healthy body. Health,
speed, and youth are responding to a society mechanism.
Geta shows off my own pace, and creates free time which leads to creative
thinking.
WISH TO CREATE NEW GETA
I want to create well-cushioned and quiet Geta which work in harmony with
concrete. Name of Geta evokes the idea of old fashioned, impractical foot
wear, and forgotten times. It also has the luck of being good looking. If we
develop new fashioned Geta which will attract ladies, I would like to sell
them in Harajuku. Then, maybe start to sell them on the west coast of
America, and then Japanese youngsters will be attracted to these which come
from overseas as they love to make copy of them!
PLEASE TAKE A WALK WITH GETA. FIND YOUR FREE AND CREATIVE TIME.
 |
|
* Advantages of Geta -----simple, casual feeling, informal, wood with
cotton strap, feeling free air flow,
* New Geta--- New fashioned and cushioned. New materials and
acceptability to younger generation. Good distribution system. |
