Japanese footwear, Jika-Tabi

Tabi are traditional Japanese socks, with the big toe separated, to allow the wearing of geta, zori or waraji. Because are made of cotton canvas, they often look more like a boot than a sock.

During the modern period a version for outside wearing appeared, with rubber soles but still with separate big toe, called jika-tabi. Invented by a company called Tabi Socks Tyre Division (which later evolved into the well known Bridgestone Corporation), the jika-tabi can be seen today worn by construction workers, farmers and rickshaw drivers.