Getabako

A getabako in the bath house of Kobe, Japan

A getabako (下駄箱) is a shoe cupboard in Japan, usually situated in the genkan, an entryway or porch of the house. In Japan, it is considered uncouth to not remove one's shoes before entering the house.[1][2] Near the getabako is a slipper rack,[3] and most people in Japan wear slippers around the house, except for rooms which have tatami flooring, as they are bad for the floor. The getabako is usually made of wood and bamboo, and there are many sold all over the world.

The word getabako is from geta (下駄, Japanese clog) and hako (箱, "box").[4]

Usually there are big getabako in schools and kindergartens, and each student has his own section. Sometimes students store personal things there as well, or use them to leave love letters.[1][5][6]

See also

References

Getabako at an elementary school
  1. 1 2 Removing Shoes // Japanese Culture and Daily Life, The Japan Forum. Originally, The Japan Forum Newsletter no8 "A day in The Life" June 1997.
  2. ↑ Getabako: Let’s get some shoes Archived 2015-09-19 at the Wayback Machine. // Corey Klassen, Feb 28, 2011
  3. ↑ Japanese social organization, University of Hawaii Press, 1992, ISBN 0824813863, page 117
  4. ↑ Japanese Morphophonemics: Markedness and Word Structure, page 231: "Undergoer: hako, Compound: geta-bako, Gloss: clog-box, shoe rack, chest for footwear"
  5. ↑ http://japanesense.wordpress.com/2012/11/11/a-glimpse-of-japanese-schools-life-part-2/
  6. ↑ Removing shoes – A day with Kentaro, The Japan Forum

Further reading

  • Removing Shoes – Japanese Culture and Daily Life, The Japan Forum. Originally, The Japan Forum Newsletter no. 8 "A day in The Life" June 1997.
  • Japanese social organization, University of Hawaii Press, 1992, ISBN 0824813863, page 117
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