Zori

Straw Zori from the 19th century

Modern, plastic women's zori

Zori (jp: 草履 zōri) are thonged Japanese sandals made of straw (usually rice straw) or other plant fibers, lacquered wood, or—increasingly—synthetic materials. The traditional forms of this Japanese footwear are not seen that often anymore since they are worn with other traditional clothing, but modern forms are fairly common, especially in summer. Zori are quite similar to flip-flops, and most fashion historians agree that flip-flops first appeared in the United States sometime around World War II as rubber imitations of the wooden thong-sandals long worn in Japan.

Like all Japanese sandals, Zori allow for free circulation of air around the feet, a feature that probably came about because of Japan's humid climate.

See also: Geta, Tabi, Waraji