Noticing the Charm of Hita Geta Through Direct Interaction

First, please tell us about your company.

Our company is a workshop that manufactures and sells Hita geta, founded in 1948. Currently, we are managed by four people: my second-generation parents and my wife and I as the third generation.

Originally, my parents intended to close the workshop in their generation, and I had no plans to take over. However, when I had the opportunity to help at the workshop while working in a corporate job, I discovered the appeal of Hita geta. Experiencing the joy of craftsmanship led me to decide to take over.

What kind of appeal did you notice?

It's filled with the thoughts and dedication of the craftsmen. Since I was surrounded by geta from a young age, I didn't consciously recognize the intricate processes involved. I thought geta was simply finished once the materials were polished, painted, and the straps attached, but it’s not that simple.

Once I began to properly observe the craftspeople at work, I realized there are many backgrounds involved in the completion. Learning about the profoundness of geta rekindled my appreciation for it.

Furthermore, I noticed it can be matched with casual styles. In modern times, sneakers have become commonplace, and the opportunities to wear geta are diminishing. Once I began to ponder, "How can people be encouraged to wear them?" I found myself enjoying the craft even more.

Can you tell me the features of the geta your company produces?

The feature of our geta is that we use cedar sourced locally. We also have many geta made with original designs, and I believe we offer a wide variety of products.

What we aim for is a geta that can blend into one’s lifestyle. We want it to be not just a special footwear but something casual that can be worn daily, so when creating new products, we keep this point in mind.

Additionally, while creating them, I think about who is going to wear this geta and how nice it would be to hear that it is easy to wear.

There are many interesting designs for geta, right? Where did those ideas come from?

Friends who knew that my family makes geta would often say things like, “It would be fun to have a geta like this” or “I would want to wear a geta like that.”

Until I took over the family business, I didn’t really have the opportunity to put those ideas into shape, but after I got involved in making things, I was able to materialize those ideas thanks to encounters with various craftsmen.

Moreover, I have received offers from various companies, leading to collaborations, such as our geta being used as costumes in films or creating original geta for famous brands.

Collaborating allows us to introduce geta to people who previously had no interest in them, which I am very grateful for.

The Fun of Facing Wood with Different Expressions

Can you tell us about the manufacturing process of Hita geta?

In our company, we first procure the basic form of geta known as "geta makura" from a sawmill. After that, we create the wooden base for the geta, then polish, process, and paint it to completion.

We use three types of hancho, with one type being made by craftsmen specialized in hancho from Nara, while the other two types are made in-house.

Are there any difficult processes?

All processes are important, but polishing requires special attention. For example, even with the same cedar, there are hard and soft woods, so the pressure and method of pushing against the wood during polishing need to change accordingly. My father and I have completely different ways of applying pressure.

Even if I think that it is “well done” at the polishing stage, small scratches can stand out once painted. I believe it takes several years to truly master the finishing.

Also, the geta makura has individual differences. Not only the hardness but also the patterns are completely different, so I need to determine how to polish each one by touching them individually. That is also a challenge.

During the painting process, I paint each one with a brush, and if not cautious, unevenness occurs. To prevent that, I put in considerable effort.

However, painting is one of my favorite processes. Each wood has a different expression, with straight grains and complex patterns, and I find it enjoyable to observe them.

You can see different expressions in each piece of wood, can't you?

The weight and color are all quite different. The inner part of the cedar wood tends to be redder. Even if we apply the same paint, the reddish wood base changes how the color appears, which I find fascinating.

We only see the state of the logs that have been cut, but there might be some that are over 100 years old mixed in.

The development of Hita geta is also related to the characteristics of the area. Hita is a forestry town, and wood has been used as a building material since ancient times, but the roots of the trees, known as 'nebukari', which are crooked, cannot be used as building materials.

In the past, parts that couldn't be used as building materials were left in the mountains, but it seems that the ability to effectively use such wood led to the flourishing of geta production.

You are running the business with your family, but is there a division of roles?

I mainly handle public relations. My father is skilled with machines, so he works with them; my mother excels at detailed tasks, such as working on the straps; and my wife is good with computers, so she deals with programming and online-related tasks.

Right now, we divide the work among ourselves, so the challenge is that if even one person is absent, it affects our operations.

My parents have told us, "After we retire, you two should run a business that you can manage together," but our company is best suited for a team of four, so I hope we can train young craftsmen and work together in the future.

What approaches do you think are necessary for young people to join?

I think it's difficult to convey everything just with words right away, so I would like them to first understand the charm of geta. I'm always considering how to spark their interest.

While salary is also a factor, it makes me happy to work with people who have a genuine desire to do it because they love it.

Continuing to Seize Opportunities without Fearing Failure

I've heard that the number of geta makers in the region is decreasing. Can you tell me about the current situation?

The peak was post-war, in the 1950s. At that time, there were about 200 companies involved in geta production, but since then, it has declined, and now there are about 7 companies, including ours.

Originally, geta production was based on division of labor, with companies that produced logs, craftsmen who made geta pillows, craftsmen who made only wooden materials, craftsmen who produced wooden bases for geta, and companies that processed them for sale.

However, currently, there is only one company left that has both geta pillow craftsmen and craftsmen who create the wooden bases. If either one retires, the division of labor collapses, and material supply stops.

Therefore, we are gradually introducing machinery to our workshop with the wisdom of various people. While there are still challenges, we are slowly establishing a system to manufacture everything in-house.

You are challenging new methods to cover the lack of craftsmen, right?

Yes. However, while it's essential to adopt new methods, it's also necessary to increase the number of craftsmen. Without creators, no products can be made, so I think we have to work on both fronts simultaneously.

Will new designs of geta continue to be produced in the future?

Yes. Encounters with craftsmen often give rise to new ideas, so I am shaping ideas when inspiration strikes. With a mindset of "If I fail, I'll think about it then," I continue to take on challenges.

Meeting various people, such as craftsmen and sellers, can spark changes in the current situation, so I value those connections highly.

While taking on challenges, are there things you have always valued?

I am creating new products as tools to promote Hita geta, but our attitude towards craftsmanship has not changed over time. I do not want to destroy the tradition, so I maintain the core aspects without altering them.

I think it's truly remarkable that Hita geta has survived with such a long history. However, we need to consider how to connect that to the next 100 years.

As the items we wear have shifted from kimonos to Western-style clothing and roads have evolved from gravel to paved roads, if we stick to traditional geta, it becomes inconvenient to walk in them; hence, we have technically evolved things like applying rubber to the soles.

The heel geta, which we manufactured, was designed to look stylish when paired with Western clothing. While cherishing the basics, I feel it's essential to create products that fit modern times.

Going forward, I want to cherish encounters and continue the history of Hita geta.