草鞋(わらじ)

わらじ
noun
straw sandals; waraji
clothing
1. straw sandals; waraji
Traditional Japanese sandals woven from straw rope (藁(わら)), secured to the foot with cords and worn directly against the bare foot or over tabi socks. The standard footwear for commoners, travelers, and soldiers in premodern Japan.
草鞋(わらじ)を履(は)く。
To put on straw sandals.
江戸時代(えどじだい)の旅人(たびびと)は草鞋(わらじ)で長(なが)い道(みち)を歩(ある)いた。
Travelers in the Edo period walked long roads in straw sandals.
草鞋(わらじ)は藁(わら)を編(あ)んで作(つく)られ、使(つか)い捨(す)てに近(ちか)い消耗品(しょうもうひん)だった。
Waraji were woven from straw and were nearly disposable items.

Traditional footwear made from twisted straw rope. Now mainly seen in historical contexts, traditional festivals, and martial arts.

Common collocations

  • 草鞋(わらじ)を履(は)く: to wear straw sandals
  • 草鞋(わらじ)を脱(ぬ)ぐ: to take off straw sandals; (figuratively) to settle in at a place
  • 草鞋(わらじ)を編(あ)む: to weave straw sandals
  • 草鞋(わらじ)履(ば)き: wearing straw sandals

The expression 草鞋(わらじ)を脱(ぬ)ぐ (lit. "to remove one's sandals") means to settle down or stop traveling — derived from the custom of removing footwear upon entering a home.

Similar words

  • 下駄(げた): wooden clogs — raised wooden footwear, also traditional but distinct in material and style
  • 雪駄(せった): leather-soled sandals — more refined than waraji

Related Words

Compare: 下駄(げた) (wooden clogs)
general
Added 2026.6.11 20:38 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
29000/29127_waraji