Oita: Giant Geta sandal paraded, celebrating a local craft that has been made for over a century

HITA, Oita — A festival was held last month in the city of Hita, Oita Prefecture, to promote geta, traditional Japanese wooden sandals made locally. Residents paraded around with a mikoshi, or portable shrine in the shape of a giant geta.

The geta-shaped mikoshi, 95 centimeters long and 55 centimeters wide, was hoisted around the Ohara Hachimangu Shrine on July 22, a day that has been declared “Geta Day” nationwide.

With forests covering over 80% of the city’s land area, makers have ample resources to produce the sandals. Hita’s geta production dates back to the 19th century, and the city produced around 20 million pairs in 1946. But production declined as consumers turned to Western-style footwear.

The Oita Hita Geta Kumiai, an association of five local geta manufacturers, and members of a local dance group who dance on Hita getas participated in the event and pledged to continue and further develop the traditional craft.

The association began performing mikoshi in the form of a geta in 1992. After a hiatus, the festival was revived in 2022.