Could your posture change too? OJOJO NAITO sandals that bring your feet back to life.

Poor posture while sitting at the computer. A pelvis that isn't in its proper position. If you have concerns like these, you may have tried pelvic correction or seitai (Japanese manual therapy), but perhaps you're the type who finds it hard to keep going back for regular treatments. Bad posture isn't just unflattering to look at—it also places a heavy burden on the body while walking, making you tire more easily, they say.

Rather than doing something special, we kept wondering if there was a way to improve this simply by incorporating it into everyday life—and that's how we came across these sandals. They're everyday footwear that support beautiful posture and good health, and can be easily kept up with.

A modern-day zori

OJOJO NAITO was born from the traditional wisdom of "Naito," a long-established footwear maker in Kyoto with over 100 years of history. The shape of this traditional Japanese zori (thonged sandal) naturally incorporated ideas for walking with beautiful posture. Reimagined with a modern touch, this footwear that lets you experience beautiful Japanese movement has drawn attention as a fashion item in Paris and New York as well.

The history of Japanese footwear goes back to the Jomon period, when it seems to have been a simple tool—a single board used in rice paddy work, with a "hanao" (thong strap) threaded through it. Later it became an essential item supporting the feet of ordinary people, before giving way to leather shoes and sneakers as Western culture came into Japan.

And so, in modern times, we've come to hear words like bunions, deformed toenails, and other foot troubles, along with talk of posture improvement—but what we were reminded of once again was the effect of the "hanao," something zori have and shoes don't, which is worn by using the space between the toes.

Moving each individual toe means truly using your feet to walk.

We came to understand that footwear with a "hanao" maintains the natural shape of the foot and supports overall health. With a hanao, the heel is left exposed. Walking in this state engages the toes and works the calf muscles (the calf is sometimes called the "second heart"). This is said to improve blood circulation and allow the core to be used naturally.

▼The one on the left shows good posture, and the one on the right shows poor posture—many people find themselves in a state like the one on the right.

・You come to use the muscles of the foot in a balanced way

・The space between your toes stays dry and comfortable

・All five toes are strengthened, improving stability

・You become able to brace with your toes, making it easier to recover your footing if you stumble

・The soles of the feet are stimulated, improving blood flow

・Your feet grow stronger

・Your posture improves

・Your toenails become more attractive

①OJOJO

For the cork sandals, we recommend the traditional way of wearing them: choose a size smaller than your actual foot length, and wear them with the heel slightly exposed for greater practical benefit.

We offer four sizes, and in general, XS and S are recommended for women, while M and L are recommended for men.

▼Here's a comparison worn by a female staff member with a foot size of 23.5cm.

For those who want a relaxed fit like an everyday sandal, or those who want a harder workout for their feet, please use this as a reference too when choosing.

▶︎Other ways to wear and choose them

There's also footwear that takes the OJOJO concept even further, offering even greater effects. It's an even smaller zori than OJOJO, called Cojojo.

②Cojojo

It looks like a small child's sandal, but it's actually footwear designed for adults, meant for exercise purposes.

How to choose between OJOJO and Cojojo

There are two types of footwear, each available in a variety of colors and sizes. There are also matching socks you can wear year-round. Coordinating the zori and socks in all black looks sharp, and a black-and-white combination is also a lovely pairing.

①OJOJO・・・Worn with the heel slightly exposed for added practicality. This footwear proposes the traditional way of wearing zori.

　Sizes: XS, S, M, L

　Color: Black

②Cojojo・・・Footwear designed for those who want to exercise.

③Mitsumata Socks・・・Socks that let you wear OJOJO and Cojojo in seasons other than summer. With three sections—one each for the big toe and little toe, and one shared by the index, middle, and ring fingers—these socks are easier to put on than standard five-toe socks.

Sizes: 22.0cm–24.0cm

Customer Q&A: things you might be wondering about

▼Left: Cojojo, Right: OJOJO Cork Sandals

Q. My feet and legs are weak and I'm a bit worried—are these good for strengthening them?

A. As for Cojojo, we don't recommend it for those who already have existing issues. If you have strong muscles and a strong core, Cojojo may be a good choice for you. On the other hand, if you don't get much exercise, we recommend OJOJO. Once you get used to it, stepping up to the harder option is also a good idea.

Q. Can I wear these indoors?

We started wearing them at home in place of slippers, but within a few days we found ourselves choosing Cojojo over slippers—the body is honest, and it seems the toes simply feel good in them.

Q. Is it inconvenient to walk outside in these?

A. I broke them in indoors during the winter, then switched to wearing them outside once the season arrived when bare feet feel good. You might call it a maiko's sense of walking. The way you walk changes completely compared to sneakers. Unlike ordinary sandals, these footwear make you conscious of the act of walking itself. You can still jog a little to catch a traffic light, but they're not suited for running at full speed.

Q. Isn't it hard to walk without a heel?

A. You get used to the lack of a heel very quickly. Because your toes engage and you end up using your entire sole to walk without a heel, it's said that this naturally improves your posture.

Q. Is it good for bunions too? What other effects can be expected besides posture?

A. Zori (traditional Japanese sandals) are being reevaluated for how bracing your feet and putting strength between your toes can help form the arch of the foot and prevent bunions. Personally, my little toenail used to be quite small, but since I started wearing Cojojo, it has begun growing like my other toenails. Also, the sweating and coldness I used to get between my toes has disappeared. I think my cold feet have improved too.

Q. Can they be worn with everyday clothing?

A. Even with a simple outfit, they instantly give your look a modern edge. You'd never guess they originated from zori—there's no traditional Japanese look to them at all.

Q. How much should I walk in them daily?

A. Apparently, the longer you wear them and walk, the better. I first broke in my Cojojo indoors for about three months. Since I spend a lot of time at home, I started wearing them like slippers to keep them on as much as possible. After that, I gradually increased the distance—first to the nearby convenience store or supermarket just a few minutes' walk away, and recently I've expanded my range to about a 1-kilometer radius. I do feel the kind of foot fatigue you'd feel the day after exercising every day.

Q. Can they be worn for longer outings, like running?

A. Even after wearing them for a long time, my feet don't hurt, and I can walk in a relaxed manner just like with traditional wafuku zori. Naito-san told me that the way the shape appears is different, and that turned out to be true. Also, I had the sense that people who normally wear heels might not find these footwear particularly unfamiliar.

There will likely be individual differences, but for someone with less muscle, walking even a kilometer would let you feel your thighs and calves working, and with longer walks, you'd feel your back muscles being strengthened. That said, apparently even about 300 meters a day is enough.

Q. Doesn't it hurt between your big toe and second toe?

A. The material of the hanao (thong strap) is a soft rubber, the same kind used for baby bottle nipples. Thanks to that, it fits comfortably and doesn't cause pain.

Q. Can people with wide feet wear them too?

A. Since the hanao offers flexibility, people with wide feet can wear them without worry.

Q. Would these make a good gift for an older person?

A. We wouldn't recommend them for someone who already has issues with their legs or hips, but we would suggest starting gradually with OJOJO NAITO sandals to slowly widen the toes.

Q. Can they be washed with water?

A. You can wash them just like you would wash sneakers. They hardly ever get very dirty, though—I've been wearing mine for half a year and haven't had the occasion to wash them yet.

Q. If the sole wears down or the hanao comes off, can they be repaired?

A. They cherish the long-held Japanese idea of repairing things to keep using them, along with the previous generation's philosophy of "making nothing that gets thrown away." Every part, including the sole, can be replaced or repaired.

"Gion Naito," Making Footwear for Over 100 Years

These are zori that match a modern lifestyle, crafted by "Naito," a traditional footwear artisan with 140 years of heritage in Kyoto.

Naito-san, the fifth generation head of Naito, is a craftsman, a researcher, and something of a philosopher when it comes to footwear. Prompted by the Great East Japan Earthquake, he began reexamining the essence of living and everyday life that we take for granted, and he started a project focused on the differences in footwear arising from the physical differences between Japanese people and people abroad, turning that insight into a tangible form.

We now live in an age where people commonly live to 100. So that the things we take for granted today can continue into the future, Naito-san has drawn on the traditions of Japanese footwear to create "OJOJO NAITO sandals," which propose a lifestyle combining culture, beauty, and health. These are everyday items that support beautiful posture and good health, bringing a sense of dignity to daily life.

PROFILE

"Naito" is a long-established maker in Kyoto that has continued to craft custom-made footwear for over 100 years, carrying on the tradition of "beauty in utility." Their footwear, made through careful handwork, has long been cherished by discerning customers—performers of Noh, Kyogen, and Kabuki, practitioners of traditional performing arts, actresses, writers, scholars, and more.

"Naito," which normally makes everything to custom order, continues to create footwear that is beautiful in appearance, easy to use, and repairable—all for the sake of the wearer. At the same time, they are now proposing footwear that revisits the inherent beauty and functionality of zori, making them easy to use in modern life. It is a long-established maker that reimagines the zori that has long supported Japanese feet, adapting it for contemporary living.