Instructions for Japanese Clogs

Japanese clogs are a unique style of footwear inspired by practicality.

You may have seen the iconic Japanese clogs in Samurai movies, cartoons or old Japanese paintings. Unlike the traditional Danish clog, they are more like a wooden sandal in shape and use. What makes this wooden footwear unique is the presence of large "teeth" under the sole, often from one to over several inches in height. The function of these teeth is to keep the long silk robes that were a part of traditional Japanese garments from dragging in the mud and dirt on the street.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler
• Jig saw
• 1/2 inch thick plywood
• 1 inch square wooden rod
• Wood glue
• 4 finish nails
• Hammer
• Nail set
• Drill
• Cloth rope
• Electric sander

Instructions

1. Use a ruler to measure your foot at its longest and widest. Add half an inch to the length measurement and multiply the width measurement by 1.5. These numbers will be the dimensions of your clogs.

2. Draw two rectangles, with length and width equal to the numbers obtained in Step 1. Traditionally, Japanese Paulownia wood was used for this. You may use whichever wood you like, but half inch plywood will be the simplest.

3. Round the corners of your sandal outline. How rounded you really want to make these is a matter of personal preference. Try a few variations until you get a shape you like.

4. Cut out the clogs using a jig saw. Sand the edges and rough spots from the cutting with the sander to keep the shoes from giving any splinters.

5. Measure and cut the teeth. These could be made out of wood scraps; most easily, a one inch square wooden rod. Measure the width of the shoes onto the rod and make a pencil mark. Measure this distance again and make another mark. Do this until you have made four marks. Cut the rod with the jig saw along the marks.

6. Write down the measurements for the length of the shoes. Divide this number by 100, and multiply the sum by 35. Measure this distance from the front of each sole and make a mark on the bottom of the shoe with a pencil. Divide the length by 100 again, and multiply the sum by 15. Save this number for use in Step 8. Measure this many inches from the back of each shoe and mark the position with a pencil mark.

7. Position the teeth onto the marks made in Step 6. Apply a strip of wood glue to hold the teeth in place, clamp the teeth until the glue dries for the time recommended on the glue bottle package. If you are going to be walking a long distance in these clogs you may want to hammer two small finish nails into each tooth through the top of the shoe. Use a nail set to push the nail into the shoe so that it does not rub against your feet.

8. Drill holes for the straps. Take the measurement saved in Step 6 and measure this far down from the top of the shoe. At this distance, measure in from the side half of the shoe's width. Make a mark here. Make two other marks, 1/4in from either side, just in front of the back tooth. Select a drill bit that is approximately the same thickness as your cloth rope and drill holes through the sole at these three locations.

9. Thread the straps. Cut about 1.5 feet of rope, and push the two ends through the two drilled holes in the back of the shoe from the bottom. Pull the rope tight. Pull the two ends through the front hole so that the ends are hanging down underneath the sole.

10. Fit the straps. Place your foot in the straps and adjust their size according to your own comfort. Once you have the size of the straps how you like them, tie the loose ends into a knot that abuts the bottom of the shoe. Cut the ends off and apply a little glue to the tips to keep them from fraying.

Tips & Warnings

• You may wish to paint your sandals to provide a more finished look. Do this just before threading the straps. Select rope that is soft enough not to cause blisters to your feet.

References

• How To Make Japanese Wooden Shoes