mountains separating Tottori and Okayama—gama craft has been passed down for over 600 years.
The plant used, known as “gama” in Japanese and written – 蒲 – in kanji, is deeply familiar to people in Japan. It grows widely across the country, from Hokkaido in the north to the southern island of Kyushu, and is even found in place names throughout the country.
Interestingly, it’s said that the Japanese words kamaboko (a steamed fish cake) and kabayaki (a style of grilled eel) were inspired by the shape of the cattail’s flower spike—thick and sausage-like, much like these foods.
In Hiruzen’s cattail craft, artisans use a specific variety called Himegama, and even today, they continue to make everyday tools from it.
Although Himegama naturally grows in wetlands, the artisans who create these baskets take care of cultivating the plants themselves.
This variety of cattail is lightweight and naturally contains oils, which give it excellent water resistance and moisture retention.
Originally, these baskets were designed as carrying packs for food supplies during travel or transport. In the past, they were even used to make items like snow shoes.
This page introduces zori sandals— traditional Japanese sandals made from cattail, a material unique to grass crafts. They come in two sizes: Small, about 8.66″, and Large, about 9.25–9.84″.
The base is constructed by weaving cattail tightly around a core material.The cattail is arranged densely, with no gaps between the strands.Because the cattail surface is smooth, the feeling against bare feet is light and dry. There may be a slight stiffness at first, but it softens and conforms to your feet with use.The thong strap, where the toes hook in, may feel firm at first, but it gradually becomes more flexible over time.The strap itself is also made from cattail.Here is the underside of the zori. The ends of the woven cattail leaves can be seen.It may seem uneven at first, but the weight of the wearer naturally levels it out over time.On the underside, you can see the cross sections of the cattail stems.
Now, let us introduce each size.
This is the Small size.Here is how the Small size looks when worn. It can be worn by children, or by adults indoors for a shorter fit. (Model’s foot size: 9.25″)This is the Large size.Here is how the Large size looks when worn. (Model’s foot size: 9.25″)
For indoor use, they are suitable for wooden floors or earthen floors, and for outdoor use, they work best on soft ground surfaces such as soil.
They can also be used on flooring, but please be careful, as the soles have no anti-slip coating and may be slippery.
Outdoor use on paved surfaces such as asphalt is not recommended, as it will cause the soles to wear out more quickly.
When you slip your feet into the straps, the soles of your feet are gently stimulated, making these cattail sandals very comfortable to wear. Their refreshing color and texture are also part of their charm.
They can be enjoyed barefoot, or worn with tabi socks or five-toe socks.
Please note: This item ships from Japan. As the buyer, you are responsible for any import duties, customs fees, or local taxes that may be charged in your country. These costs are not included in the item price or shipping cost. Please check with your local customs authority if you are unsure about any potential charges before placing your order.
mountains separating Tottori and Okayama—gama craft has been passed down for over 600 years.
The plant used, known as “gama” in Japanese and written – 蒲 – in kanji, is deeply familiar to people in Japan. It grows widely across the country, from Hokkaido in the north to the southern island of Kyushu, and is even found in place names throughout the country.
Interestingly, it’s said that the Japanese words kamaboko (a steamed fish cake) and kabayaki (a style of grilled eel) were inspired by the shape of the cattail’s flower spike—thick and sausage-like, much like these foods.
In Hiruzen’s cattail craft, artisans use a specific variety called Himegama, and even today, they continue to make everyday tools from it.
Although Himegama naturally grows in wetlands, the artisans who create these baskets take care of cultivating the plants themselves.
This variety of cattail is lightweight and naturally contains oils, which give it excellent water resistance and moisture retention.
Originally, these baskets were designed as carrying packs for food supplies during travel or transport. In the past, they were even used to make items like snow shoes.
This page introduces zori sandals— traditional Japanese sandals made from cattail, a material unique to grass crafts. They come in two sizes: Small, about 8.66″, and Large, about 9.25–9.84″.
The base is constructed by weaving cattail tightly around a core material.The cattail is arranged densely, with no gaps between the strands.Because the cattail surface is smooth, the feeling against bare feet is light and dry. There may be a slight stiffness at first, but it softens and conforms to your feet with use.The thong strap, where the toes hook in, may feel firm at first, but it gradually becomes more flexible over time.The strap itself is also made from cattail.Here is the underside of the zori. The ends of the woven cattail leaves can be seen.It may seem uneven at first, but the weight of the wearer naturally levels it out over time.On the underside, you can see the cross sections of the cattail stems.
Now, let us introduce each size.
This is the Small size.Here is how the Small size looks when worn. It can be worn by children, or by adults indoors for a shorter fit. (Model’s foot size: 9.25″)This is the Large size.Here is how the Large size looks when worn. (Model’s foot size: 9.25″)
For indoor use, they are suitable for wooden floors or earthen floors, and for outdoor use, they work best on soft ground surfaces such as soil.
They can also be used on flooring, but please be careful, as the soles have no anti-slip coating and may be slippery.
Outdoor use on paved surfaces such as asphalt is not recommended, as it will cause the soles to wear out more quickly.
When you slip your feet into the straps, the soles of your feet are gently stimulated, making these cattail sandals very comfortable to wear. Their refreshing color and texture are also part of their charm.
They can be enjoyed barefoot, or worn with tabi socks or five-toe socks.
Please note: This item ships from Japan. As the buyer, you are responsible for any import duties, customs fees, or local taxes that may be charged in your country. These costs are not included in the item price or shipping cost. Please check with your local customs authority if you are unsure about any potential charges before placing your order.
mountains separating Tottori and Okayama—gama craft has been passed down for over 600 years.
The plant used, known as “gama” in Japanese and written – 蒲 – in kanji, is deeply familiar to people in Japan. It grows widely across the country, from Hokkaido in the north to the southern island of Kyushu, and is even found in place names throughout the country.
Interestingly, it’s said that the Japanese words kamaboko (a steamed fish cake) and kabayaki (a style of grilled eel) were inspired by the shape of the cattail’s flower spike—thick and sausage-like, much like these foods.
In Hiruzen’s cattail craft, artisans use a specific variety called Himegama, and even today, they continue to make everyday tools from it.
Although Himegama naturally grows in wetlands, the artisans who create these baskets take care of cultivating the plants themselves.
This variety of cattail is lightweight and naturally contains oils, which give it excellent water resistance and moisture retention.
Originally, these baskets were designed as carrying packs for food supplies during travel or transport. In the past, they were even used to make items like snow shoes.
This page introduces zori sandals— traditional Japanese sandals made from cattail, a material unique to grass crafts. They come in two sizes: Small, about 8.66″, and Large, about 9.25–9.84″.
The base is constructed by weaving cattail tightly around a core material.The cattail is arranged densely, with no gaps between the strands.Because the cattail surface is smooth, the feeling against bare feet is light and dry. There may be a slight stiffness at first, but it softens and conforms to your feet with use.The thong strap, where the toes hook in, may feel firm at first, but it gradually becomes more flexible over time.The strap itself is also made from cattail.Here is the underside of the zori. The ends of the woven cattail leaves can be seen.It may seem uneven at first, but the weight of the wearer naturally levels it out over time.On the underside, you can see the cross sections of the cattail stems.
Now, let us introduce each size.
This is the Small size.Here is how the Small size looks when worn. It can be worn by children, or by adults indoors for a shorter fit. (Model’s foot size: 9.25″)This is the Large size.Here is how the Large size looks when worn. (Model’s foot size: 9.25″)
For indoor use, they are suitable for wooden floors or earthen floors, and for outdoor use, they work best on soft ground surfaces such as soil.
They can also be used on flooring, but please be careful, as the soles have no anti-slip coating and may be slippery.
Outdoor use on paved surfaces such as asphalt is not recommended, as it will cause the soles to wear out more quickly.
When you slip your feet into the straps, the soles of your feet are gently stimulated, making these cattail sandals very comfortable to wear. Their refreshing color and texture are also part of their charm.
They can be enjoyed barefoot, or worn with tabi socks or five-toe socks.
Please note: This item ships from Japan. As the buyer, you are responsible for any import duties, customs fees, or local taxes that may be charged in your country. These costs are not included in the item price or shipping cost. Please check with your local customs authority if you are unsure about any potential charges before placing your order.
