Tabi
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Tabi are traditional Japanese socks worn with thonged footwear such as zori, dating back to the 15th century.
Pair of tabi
Tabi being worn with geta
Cotton-paper tabi, 1700s
Cloth tabi with ties, early 1900s
Jika-tabi
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Jika-tabi are a style of footwear with a divided toe, originating in Japan. They are similar to tabi socks in both appearance and construction. Though they can be worn with traditional thonged footwear such as geta and zōri, jika-tabi are mostly designed and made to be worn alone as outdoor footwear, resembling boots that reach roughly to the mid-calf. Jika-tabi are also known as 'tabi boots'.
Anatomy of jika-tabi, showing the kohaze metal closures at the back of the boot, the rubber soles and the fabric upper portion
Leather tabi, Edo period (1603-1867), precursors to modern jika-tabi
Late-Edo print of a samurai wearing outdoor tabi
Farmworkers wearing outdoor tabi, 1912