京都木屐匠人：在橡胶与塑料时代坚守木屐声
In a narrow workshop in Kyoto, the rhythmic scrape of a knife against paulownia wood has been heard for six decades. Tanaka-san, one of Japan’s few remaining geta craftsmen, shapes each sandal by hand, guided by memory and a weathered pattern book. The elevated wooden shoes—once as common as sneakers—are now a niche product, worn mostly with yukata in summer or by traditional dancers.
Each geta begins as a lightweight block of paulownia, chosen for its water resistance and spongy feel. Tanaka-san carves the footbed to match the customer’s arch, then drills holes for the cloth thong. The teeth (ha) underneath are angled just enough to make the signature clip-clop sound on stone. “The noise is part of the wear,” he says, tapping a finished pair against his bench. “It announces your walk before you arrive.”
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