Straw boots, Waragutsu, are a developed version of Zori, sandal-like shoes made of straw, mainly used in areas with a lot of snow in Japan. Zori was first imported into Japan from China and spread all over Japan in the middle of the Heian period. In cold places such as the Tohoku region, however, Zori did not work because of a lot of snow every winter. Under these circumstances, straw boots were developed so that people there could walk even on the snow without suffering from the cold weather. Straw boots cover the whole feel unlike Zori, so people wearing that can feel more warmth and walk through the roads with snow.

I was originally born in Akita City but later on, moved to Noshiro, the northern part of Akita prefecture. Noshiro was a much more rural area than Akita City; you could even see horses strolling around on the road there. In the city, almost half of my classmates still wore straw boots instead of the shoes we wear now, which was surprising to me because it was unusual in my hometown. I remember one of my classmates even tried stealing my shoes because they were rare in Noshiro. 

Straw boots kept my feet warm, and they reminded me of a straw futon as well. Goods made of straw smell really good and protect me from the cold weather. They gave me such a pleasant feeling.