WARAJI and WARAZORI

In old days, people wore waraji when they travel and walke long distance and warzori for short distance.
waraji Tie the straw thongs on your ankles	warazori

Waraji is one of the footwear called "kai/ 鞋" which were innovated for lower-ranking officials
under the ritsuryo system of centralized authority.
(ritsuryo is a law or legal codes of the Nara and Heian eras based on Chinese models)
They were made of straw (wara) or rush (igusa/ the same plant which is used in tatami mats).
Warazori was simplified waraji to ommit laces to tie ankles.
In the middle of the Heian period, they became popular among the ordinary people.
Surprisingly enough, it seemed that they made special waraji for horses and cows.
Footwear made of straw are not slippery in the mud,
don`t splash., very light and easy to move.
So, they have been used in the countryside until in recent years.
In the present day, they are worn for festivals
or sold as souvenirs in villeges in the mountain-side.