Japanese Piko Piko Sandals Children's Squeaky Shoes!

Description

Brand new pair of delightful Japanese piko piko sandals!  These classic Japanese children's shoes are sure to delight any child and bring a smile to the face of anyone who sees (and hears!) the child walking or running by.  The words "piko piko" are how the Japanese describe the rubber ducky squeak the shoes make as the child walks.  The sound of piko piko sadaru is as common a summertime sound in Japanese parks as the whir of cicada and the happy laughter of children.  Piko piko sandals have been popular in Japan since at least the 1960's, as my wife Yumiko claims to have enjoyed her pair when she was a little girl.  Please read below to learn about the history and variety of traditional Japanese footwear.

Size:
Toe to heel length (measured at bottom of sole): 6.2 inches (16 centimeters)
Weight of pair: 4.7 ounces (135 grams)

Traditional Japanese footwear

In a country where everyone must remove their shoes before formally entering most buildings it's convenient to use footwear that is easy to slip on and off.  Such is the case in Japan where slip-on shoes made of straw, wood or other materials have been used for centuries.  Though the Japanese began wearing western style shoes during the late 19th century they nonetheless never lost their affection for traditional slip-on shoes such as zori and geta.  Zori and geta are similar in that both types of shoes are held in place by a thong running between the toes.  However, while zori tend to resemble modern sandals, geta on the other hand are quite distinct with the soles of the shoes being elevated several inches above the ground by two (or even one!) wooden slats called ha (literally "tooth").  Geta thus help raise the feet above the ground in order to protect the feet and kimono from becoming soiled.  In the past, wooden geta were especially popular with Japanese children who wore them everywhere and in any weather (geta were even used to make ice skates!).  The tradition of children and geta has survived into modern times with many Japanese kindergartens providing their students geta to wear to and from school and while at play in the schoolyard (Our little daughter Emily loves to wear her geta each day to school along with all the other kids at her kindergarten).  While most foreigners may suspect geta to be clumsy and difficult to wear I can testify to watching kids run, jump and even climb stairs with ease in old fashioned wooden geta.  Zori on the other hand are today most frequently seen on the feet of women in kimono.  Zori are normally worn with pure white toe-slotted tabi socks which together with the kimono and obi complete the traditional Japanese costume for women.  Some people believe that the popular western thong sandals (aka "flip flops") trace their origin to the Japanese zori.  If so, then surfers and beach bums the world over owe a debt of gratitude to this very special and unique form of traditional Japanese footwear.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Please contact us anytime if you have questions or concerns about purchases made on this site.

• By Email: dinnerbytheriver@gmail.com
• By Phone: +1 949-466-0864
• Ship From Address:
  Art Hills Yada 501
  4-1 Yada, Suruga Ward
  Shizuoka City, Shizuoka
  Japan 422-8002

RETURN POLICY

• Eligibility: To be eligible for a return, the item must be unused, in its original condition, and returned within 60 days from the date of purchase.
• Return Process: To initiate a return, please contact us via the email or phone number above and within the specified return period. You will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.
• Return Shipping: Customers are responsible for the shipping costs associated with returning the item, unless the return is due to a product defect or error on our part.