Baggy Pants and Slippers
I met this construction worker on a train one day a while back, and I still can't get over his baggy pants and slippers. He's got a hard hat and some other tools in his bag, but the pants and slippers are just wild. Maybe he's on his way home, I don't know. But how can you work construction in those pants? Look at those things. That would drive me nuts. I'd be getting tangled up in everything I walked past. Perhaps this is a fashion statement? I have no idea. And the feet. My goodness. I've seen guys on sites here banging nails and pounding on jackhammers and climbing scaffolding with absolutely paper thin footwear that just sends shivers up my spine. What if you step on a nail? Or, heck, even a pebble would hurt with what these guys wear on their feet. What if you drop something on your foot? What if you fall? I've certainly done all these things! :) And I always had big kick ass work boots with steel toes and steel plates and everything. I don't see that here, though, and I keep wondering why. I'll have to have some conversations with these guys.
Maybe that's why Japanese construction sites are so quiet and clean - they don't want to hurt their feet while they're soft-shoeing around :-)
Posted by Pat Patterson on September 05, 2008 at 12:43 PM JST #
That's the only thing I can think of, actually. I'll have to have an extensive conversation with one of these guys on day with my wife to really dig into the issue. Just walking to work today I saw some guys doing heavy concrete work with shoes that appeared to be no thicker than my socks. Amazing.
Posted by Jim Grisanzio on September 05, 2008 at 01:52 PM JST #
Well, these slippers are of course for relaxing and not for work. Please see the socks carefully. The toe is divided into two. It shows that he puts on “Jikatabi” at his work. Jikatabi is Japanese traditional working shoes that have thin and soft soles. Of course it does not protect feet from falling steel-frame, but it is extremely helpful when they work in high places and demolishing building. For feet could sense the condition of ground due to thinness of the sole. They can find where is slippery and where is about to collapse.
I found the same concept in the moccasin of Native Americans. (ref. “Little Tree” Forrest Carter), and the spirit is inherited to “Low Impact” of Sierra Club.
Posted by Ken Okubo on September 05, 2008 at 02:26 PM JST #
Thanks, Ken. That's very helpful. I've seen those soft sole shoes you describe all over the place (didn't know the name, thanks), and I can certainly see the value in providing better touch to the ground. That's one of the big disadvantages of the big work boots I used to use back in New York. But what I still don't understand is that they use these Jikatabi for what I would consider pretty heavy construction, both steel work and concrete work. That would scare the heck out of me on a site. :) Having said that, I find most Japanese constructions sites *substantially* cleaner and better organized than those in the U.S.
Posted by Jim Grisanzio on September 05, 2008 at 02:45 PM JST #
There looks to be something hard under the pants just near the slippers...
Posted by Behrang on September 06, 2008 at 09:45 AM JST #
I came across this comment while looking up info on the baggy construction worker pants. At my own Japan Store, we sell jikatabi all over the world and the Rikio Safety is one of the more popular models. It's one of two "anzen jikatabi" made by Rikio, by far the market leader in Japan. The Safety has a steel alloy toe cap and extra rubber padding for the ankles. But other than that, they are the same light canvas "boots" with the thing rubber soles. So nothing like the kind of protection offered by the boots worn in other countries.
So now all I have to do is find a wholesale source for those wild pants in all the colors of the rainbow!
Posted by JapanStore on November 11, 2008 at 02:02 PM JST #
Hello.
Yes, this must seem odd by western standards, but Mexicans will wear sandals in construction also.
The baggy pants are a Japanese thing for the most part.
In Islamic countries you will find the loose fitting one piece Thob and sandals.
Heavy boots are fine, but for operating a bulldozer or skid-steer, where you work with your feet all day and are safe from ground hazards?
I feel that on the ground is one thing, but one on a piece of equipment or in a truck what I do or do not wear should be my choice.
I feel that a large straw hat and sandals should be permitted under limited conditions, even in construction.
Posted by Rudolph Wratten on May 10, 2009 at 09:13 AM JST #