草履 - Zori (Japanese sandals)

Japanese sandals called zori are worn with formal Japanese kimonos unlike the wooden clogs called geta that are worn with yukatas. Like geta, the sandals have thongs that are put between the big toe and the other toes. Japanese sandals are worn with white Japanese socks called tabi while wooden clogs are worn without socks. Various materials ranging from expensive ox hide to relatively cheap vinyl are used for Japanese sandals. There are also deluxe beautifully embroidered sandals. Long ago sandals were made of straw, rush, and bamboo. They were called waraji and were used as daily footwear.

下駄が普段着の浴衣を着たときに履く履物であるのに対して、草履は着物を着たとき(正装時)に履く履物です。下駄と同様に鼻緒が付いていて、それを足の親指と人差し指の間に差し入れて履きます。下駄が素足のまま履く履物であるのに対して、草履は白足袋を履いて履きます。高価な牛皮製から安価なビニール製まで色々な素材が使われ、美しい刺繍を施した高級品もあります。昔はわら・イグサ・竹の皮で編んだ草履が日常の履物とされ、これらは特に草鞋(わらじ)と呼ばれていました。