Ceremonial Footwear / Shikai / Silk Thread Embroidery

Product Description

Product Story

General Product Information

Footwear worn by dancers in court rituals and in bugaku performed at various shrines and grand shrines.

The material used is twisted silk. The leather backing is deerskin, and the knot is made of braided cord.
The weaving is done stitch by stitch, glance by glance, in the same rhythm, and in the process, a water chestnut pattern is created within the water chestnut to create the crest.

This product can be worn, but is basically for decoration.
If you want a shikai in your size, please contact us.

 

 Product History

When did these crafts start to craft?：1200 years ago / 800AD / Heian period in Japan

Shikai are shoes similar to zuku shoes made of woven thread, with a woven diamond pattern and leather soles. Originally, Shikai were made of hemp and worn by military officers of the sixth rank or lower, and because they were light and active, they were used by children of aristocrats in the same way as Dosuiboshi, which became more luxurious, and Shikai made of silk thread were born.

At the Kasuga Taisha shrine festival in Nara Prefecture, the musicians (bugaku, gagaku, sarugaku) dance on the lawn wearing Shikai.

Craftsman Story

Craftsman Profile

Hashimoto Jinzo Shoten

Founded in Taisho 13 (1924), Hashimoto Jinzo Shoten initially specialized in Kyoto lacquerware and lacquered articles for Shinto and Buddhist rituals, including lacquered footwear such as clogs and straw sandals for Shinto priests.

After the passing of the founder in Showa 49 (1974), the second generation renamed the shop from Hashimoto Shoten to Hashimoto Jinzo Shoten. They continued to specialize in the lacquerware of items like straw sandals, crowns, and bird hats. The shop was also involved in creating footwear for important ceremonies, including the Shikinen Sengu of Ise Jingu and the enthronement ceremony.

Following the passing of the second-generation owner in Heisei 26 (2014), the third-generation owner, Hashimoto Koji, took over. The shop now manufactures and sells religious footwear and hats for Shinto priests at the Imperial Palace ceremonies, various major shrines, and temples, as well as for monks of various sects and main temples.

Craftsman Passion

"After its creator ceased to exist, it took about 10 years to restore it, using as a reference the items given to us by a dancer."

We are making daily efforts to produce footwear necessary for traditional Japanese events such as bugaku, which are worn in sacred places as well as with great skill, so that they can be handed down to the next generation.

  

Your Contribution to Craftsman

Customer Voice

Due to the market structure (link for full articles are attached bottom), craftsman have not known who the customer is and how customer reacts to their work. We made a “Message to Craftsman” box at purchase page. We will deliver all message to every craftsman. Our review will be also shared to craftsman so please leave your comment and evaluation on review section!

Income for Craftsman: Craftsman get only less than 10% of selling price?

As written above, craftsman have not controlled last phase of sales channel that resulting in selling price is set by third-party without craftsman’s recognition. There are some cases that only less than 10% of selling price is given to craftsman. We promise with our customer / craftsman that we offer the fair trade with craftsmen in our contract!

We made an article about above problem and our challenge. Please have a read from below link.
Current state of the Crafts Market / Benefits brought by Suigenkyo

Measurement

Foot Size : 25.0-25.5cm
Weight：480g

Material & Caution

Materials

Silk
Deerskin

 

Caution

Each piece is handmade, so there are individual differences even in the same series. We hope that you will understand the change by handmade.

Delivery Date

Please note that it will take about 1~2 months for delivery if we do not have the item in stock.