Call them ninja shoes if you want, but our tabis have a more humble history...
Split-toe shoes are called jika tabi. The purpose of the split is balance (it helps the wearer to "feel" the ground better), which is why jika tabi have been favored by Japanese gardeners, farmers, and construction workers for nearly a century.
While traditional jika tabi have very thin soles, SOU・SOU split-toe shoes are more like sneakers and have thicker soles. But don't fret! Even with more substantial tread, our tabi shoes will still have you moving your feet in a whole new way.
Currently, SOU・SOU is the only company dedicated to making tabi shoes in Japan and each pair is hand made by trained Japanese artisans.
