How to Make Geta

Geta are traditional Japanese shoes, used on festive and formal occasions as well as informally. The shoes are wooden sandals with risers on the bottom of the soles, similar to clogs and flip-flops, and they have three main parts: the sole, the strap and the two risers.To make traditional geta, a solid piece of wood is carved so that the finished geta is one piece. Geta can also be made using a three-piece method instead if you don’t have carving experience.The kind of wood used in making traditional geta is paulownia. It is easy to work and has a good finish. However, you may not be able to find it locally, but there are suppliers. An alternative wood is poplar.

Things You'll Need

• Fine-bladed hand saw
• Coping, jib, or saber saw
• Rasp
• Drill: 3/8 inch bit
• Sand paper: various grades
• Twine
• Cloth
• Cotton batting
• Clamps/bricks
• Wood, 8 feet long; 3/8 to 1/2-inch thick

Instructions

1. Measure the foot length. The back edge of the heel will line up with the back edge of the geta. However the edge should not be felt when walking. It will look like your heel is fractionally beyond the end. Measure 1/2-inch beyond the longest toe for the complete length of the sole.

2. Measure the foot width. The sole of the geta is 1 1/2 times the foot’s width.

3. Measure the wood thickness for risers. The thickness of the risers should be 15% of the length.To get riser height, the total height of the geta must be 2 inches. If the sole thickness is 1/2-inch, then the risers should be 1 1/2 inches high.

4. Measure the placement of the front riser. Starting from the front edge of the sole, measure 35% of the sole’s length. That is where the riser should be placed.

5. Measure placement of back riser. Starting at the heel, measure off 15% of the sole’s length. This is where the back riser will be placed.

6. Measure the strap length, using the length from side hole to front hole. Double that for the complete strap length. The length will also depend on foot size.Measure toe strap length. Generally, start with 2 1/2 inches. This must be adjusted for personal comfort. Add a little extra material for pulling the straps through the holes. The cloth should not poke out the bottom of the holes.

7. Cut pieces for risers and soles. Slightly round the corners of the soles. Sand the soles and risers.

8. Glue risers to the soles.

9. Clamp wood together. Use either clamps or bricks (12 pounds). Let the wood set until completely dry, using the glues instructions to judge time.

10. Drill strap holes. The side holes go right in front of the back riser. Drill at an angle heading away from the back riser. The front hole is placed back 15% of the sole length. It can be centered or placed ergonomically.

11. Measure out twine, cotton batting and cloth for the strap. Wrap batting around the twine. Sew a tube out of the cloth and invert it so the seam is inside. Put the cotton covered twine into the tube. The finished tube should be 1/2-inch wide.

12. Complete the toe strap, using the same method as the regular strap, but without the batting. Loop the toe strap around the regular strap, like a flip-flop. Pull straps through respective holes. Adjust. Glue it in place.

Tips & Warnings

• For more feminine geta, cut an oval shape for the sole. For a masculine geta, leave the sole rectangular.

• If your feet are not used to the straps, you can order, tabi, a special kind of toe sock for geta.

• It takes practice to walk in geta.