Okobo

Okobo (おこぼ), also referred to as pokkuri, bokkuri, or koppori geta from the sound made when walking,[1] are wooden sandals worn by maiko (apprentice geisha) during their apprenticeship, young women during Seijin no Hi and young girls for Shichi-Go-San celebrations.

Maiko in Kyoto wearing Okobo

The okobo worn by maiko are usually five to six inches tall (13 to 15 cm).[2] They are usually made of paulownia due to the wood's hard-wearing and lightweight qualities, and have either no finish or (for summer) a plain black lacquered finish. The hanao straps of maiko indicate status and training; red straps are worn by new maiko, while yellow ones are for senior maiko at the end of their apprenticeship.[3]

The okobo worn by young women coming of age are roughly shorter than those worn by maiko. These are often finished in black lacquer, possibly with flecks of gold or a colour gradient, and may be decorated with floral designs on the side. The hanao worn with these okobo can be any colour, and are often embroidered with colourful and floral designs to match the kimono worn with them.

Okobo worn for Shichi-Go-San may be decorated in the same manner as those worn by young women, though the outside may instead be covered with brocade fabric, or the sides solid red.