What do people get wrong about putting on and lacing shoes?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
In Japan you take your shoes off and on many times a day, so habits such as treading down the heel or slipping shoes on and off still laced come easily. They affect both the life of the shoe and the health of the foot. How to wear shoes is asked more often than you might expect in every country. Here is the general guidance of Japan's footwear industry and foot specialists.
The basics of putting shoes on
| Step | What | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loosen the laces and put your foot in | Forcing it stretches the opening |
| 2 | Tap the heel lightly on the floor to seat your heel in the heel of the shoe | The position where the foot does not slide forward |
| 3 | Tighten the laces in order from the toe end | Holds the instep evenly |
| 4 | Tie. Leave room for one finger | Too tight restricts blood flow and causes numbness |
| 5 | Loosen the laces to take the shoes off | Pulled off still tied, the opening and heel break down |
| Size | About 1 cm at the toe (捨て寸, sute-zun, "spare length"), no pressure across the width, try on in the evening (feet swell) | The toes can move |
- Treading down the heel crushes the heel counter (the stiffener in the heel), and the shoe stops supporting the foot. A crushed counter does not recover.
- Wearing shoes with the laces loose lets the foot slide forward and pushes the toes against the front, and is generally described (by the Japanese Society for Footwear Medicine and others) as one factor in bunions (hallux valgus), ingrown toenails and knee strain.
- Habits of people living in Japan: on days with a lot of taking off and on, wear shoes that need no tying (loafers, slip-ons), or switch to elastic laces or quick-release fasteners. Keep a shoehorn (靴べら, kutsu-bera) at the entrance.
- Children's shoes: check the size every 3–6 months (growth), and pull the Velcro strap tight before fastening it.
[Verify] The effects on the foot are based on general explanations from the Japanese Society for Footwear Medicine and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association. The sizing guide (sute-zun) is footwear-industry convention.
Misunderstanding 1｜Treading on the heel doesn't change the shoe
The heel counter crushes and does not recover. The shoe loses its ability to support the foot, and its life shortens sharply. Use a shoehorn.
Misunderstanding 2｜Tie the laces once and never loosen them
Taking shoes off and on while tied stretches the opening and breaks down the heel. Loosen them every time you take the shoes off. If that is a chore, choose shoes without laces.
Misunderstanding 3｜A bigger shoe is more comfortable
The foot slides inside and the toes are pushed forward. Seat the heel, 1 cm at the toe is the guide. Check the width too.
Misunderstanding 4｜The tighter, the more stable
It restricts blood flow, causing numbness and cold feet. Room for one finger. People with a high instep can relieve the pressure by skipping an eyelet or two when lacing.
Misunderstanding 5｜Buy children's shoes a little big so they last longer
Shoes that are too big are generally described as a cause of falls and foot deformity. 0.5–1 cm of room at the toe, check every 3–6 months. Make a habit of pulling the Velcro strap tight before fastening it.
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Sources
- Japanese Society for Footwear Medicine, "Choosing and wearing shoes correctly" [一般社団法人日本靴医学会「正しい靴の選び方・履き方」]
https://www.kutsuigaku.jp/
- Japanese Orthopaedic Association, "Hallux valgus (bunions)" [公益社団法人日本整形外科学会「外反母趾」]
https://www.joa.or.jp/public/sick/
- Consumer Affairs Agency, "Choosing children's shoes and preventing accidents" [消費者庁「子どもの靴の選び方・事故防止」]
https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/consumer_safety/child/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
About this article
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.
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