Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Taking off shoes

When we enter our house or stay in Japanese style hotel, we definitely take off our shoes.We distinguish outside from inside.
We think that the shoes are dirty. This means the ground outside is not clean. Therefore, we think entering the house putting on the shoes is dirty. I hesitate that I sit down the street or ground directly and putting on my bags or food on the ground. You might think that it is too nervous. Recent some young Japanese people do these actions without hesitating. I think it is not good manner. Almost Japanese will agree with my opinion.
Our houses have a space to take off and put on shoes in front of the door, is called Genkan and shoes box aside.
Japanese feel relief at first after taking off our shoes when we arrive at home and we can relax in our house. Taking off shoes is as if to release our tension or tiredness in daily life. I can't relax putting on shows in the house or room from a sanitary standpoint. We don't get used to put on shoes in the house or room .
Good manner for shoes is to arrange them to be able to put on the shoes soon and easily when you go out . If someone visits our house, we will arrange the guest’s shoes. Also, if you visit other people’s house, you had better arrange your own shoes.
I think taking off shoes in the house is good custom. Would you try to feel at home without shoes in your house ?

3 comments:

FabrizioTorri said...

in italy most of people use old slippers (or other similar "homeshoes") when in their home.
can you write a little about "cotton white gloves"? they seems to be used a lot, in uniforms for example..

Ricky said...

Is it Tabi, Japanese socks ?
If it is, you can see the web site below. http://www.japanesekimono.com/tabi.htm

We usually use Tabi when we put on Kimono. However, we seldom use it in daily life.

FabrizioTorri said...

well..thanks for the link,
but i meant white cotton tebukuro,
i had the impression that they are used in japan a lot, as i wrote, in uniforms and so on... But maybe i am wrong.