How to wear a uniform.
So you are studying Ninjutsu. What are all the pieces of that unifom? Do I need them all now? Where do I get them? What size?
Okay so you can get them pieces at a time if you can't afford it. You can get them all here. The basic pieces are, from top to bottom, the main gi (black, both top and pants), a kyu patch, a white belt, tabi socks, outdoor jikatabi boots (that can be worn inside also in a crunch), and boot covers. This would be considered a complete uniform. The bells and whistles can be obtained later. See the video below.
See the sizing chart below. Accepted colour is usually black, but its okay for grey, dark blue, or brown also. Women can wear purple too. If the sizing chart is confusing, just send your height, sex, and weight when ordering. Tabi sizing is in centimeters when ordering, so trace your foot on a piece of paper and measure it. Also note, prices may change without notice. That sounds like a cliche, but since some items do not sell possibly for years, their prices could change since I last obtained them from my suppliers, or may not be available at all. In these cases, you will be notified and adjusted.
Japanese Shoe & Footwear Sizes
If you take one thing away from this page, let it be: choose your tabi size by measuring your feet!! If you're buying Japanese footwear for the first time, this page will help you choose the right size. If in doubt, contact us for assistance. In Japan, men's shoes tend to be available only up to size 28cm (US size 10) and women's up to size 25cm (size 8). We are one of the few online stores where you can find larger Japanese footwear items (up to 32cm/US size 14) in a variety of styles. Tabi and jikatabi are form-fitting, more like a sock than a shoe or boot. But unless they're described as "stretch tabi," there is little or no stretch to them so the size needs to be the same or slightly larger than the actual size of your foot. To get this size, measure both feet (they're not always the same!) from the heel to the tip of the big toe. Drawing an outline on a sheet of paper is one good way to do this. This size plus 0.5cm and rounded up to the nearest half centimeter is the size you should order, making any allowances for thick/thin socks if you plan to wear them. Allowing a little extra room is particularly important with the cushion models, as the extra insole padding can make the fit more snug. We will exchange a pair that don't fit (as long as they are returned undamaged and in their original packaging), but you are responsible for shipping both ways. Some tabi and jikatabi use velcro or elastic but most are secured with "kohaze," metal fasteners that slip into cotton loops that run up the back of the ankle. Jikatabi have four rows of loops so they can be adjusted for a perfect fit. The number of kohaze on jikatabi varies from 3 to 15. But they are adjustable only around the ankles and calves, while the foot size is fixed. Tabi usually have 4 or 5 kohaze. See our video above about how to wear tabi. Please note that these charts should be considered as a rough guide and that you should read the
instructions above before choosing a size. There is always a risk when buying footwear online, so if you have any questions about choosing a tabi size go ahead and ask us.
