Introducing the Childhood Habit of World-Class Soccer Brothers: Launch of ROOTS, a New Foot-Education Geta to Nurture Children’s Future from the Ground Up

Balance Tech Kyoto Inc. (headquartered in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City; CEO: Kazuaki Shimada), which operates the foot-education brand GETA LABO (Geta Labo) that provides 【Geta Training®️】—a modern redesign of traditional “single-tooth geta” adopted by world-class athletes and Japanese national-level players—announces the launch of ROOTS, a new foot-education geta for children, together with Japanese national soccer player Sano Kaishu, overseas league player Sano Koda, and their father, Sano Ryuichi.

ROOTS is a children's foot-education product developed by fusing the wisdom of “geta,” a traditional Japanese footwear culture passed down for generations, with modern insights into physical development.

ROOTS Details Page

https://getalabo-store.com/items/6a2e408124537c26418d8787

Why “Foot Education” Now?

In recent years, the environment surrounding children has changed dramatically.

・Paved roads.

・High-performance footwear.

・Decline in outdoor play.

While daily life has become more convenient, there is a growing concern about children who cannot fully use their toes, as well as issues related to posture and balance ability.

Standing.

Walking.

Running.

The foundation for all of these actions is the “foot.”

For many years, we have explored the question: “Where is the origin of physical development?”

In this process, we focused on the Japanese “geta” culture—a tradition worn for hundreds of years.

Gripping the thong with the toes.

Feeling the ground through the soles.

Balancing the entire body.

Geta retains numerous elements that naturally draw out the human body’s innate way of movement.

Insights from the Feet of Brothers Soaring Globally

The birth of Roots was inspired by a pivotal encounter that gave us profound insight into “foot education” for future generations.

This was our meeting with Sano Kaishu, a Japanese national team soccer player active on the world stage; Sano Koda, excelling in overseas leagues; and their father, Sano Ryuichi.

What stood out during our conversation was that the brothers had been familiar with wearing geta since early childhood.

Physical development cultivated through wearing geta to school and running around rice paddies.

Of course, we cannot attribute their success solely to wearing geta.

Daily effort.

Family support.

Encounters with coaches.

Competition and camaraderie with peers.

Their current achievements stem from countless accumulated experiences.

Yet, through their story, we reaffirmed the crucial insight: “The foot environment in early childhood forms the foundation of physical development.”

Comment from Mr. Sano Ryuichi

From an early age, we emphasized building the body’s foundation through daily life.

We nurtured toe strength, sole sensitivity, and balance through everyday activities like wearing geta, walking barefoot, and playing in rice fields—not formal training.

Above all, I wanted to prevent Kaishu and Koda from having to abandon their dreams due to injury. So, we started the geta habit when Kaishu was 5 and Koda was 2, continuing until third grade.

Kaishu’s toes, in particular, are well-developed and appear longer than average. While many factors contribute to their physical strength, I believe their injury-free performance stems largely from their childhood habits.

To them, I always emphasized these five principles:

1. Strive to enjoy

Not just having fun, but striving to “play with a positive attitude.” Fun and effort are not opposites.

2. Instill a “fighting spirit” in early childhood

Teach the attitude of not giving up when things get tough—before focusing on technique. This is the core of the Sano family philosophy.

3. Tailor your words to each child’s personality

For Kaishu: “Do your best.” For Koda: “Keep it playful.” Even siblings don’t receive the same encouragement.

4. Instill determination early

Be clear about dreams: “If you want to be a pro, leave home” or “achieve it within three high school years.” Set deadlines and commitment.

5. Parents should support, but also convey reality

Be honest about money, career paths, and future challenges. Then, say, “I’ll handle the financial part,” and push them forward.

Through this personalized parenting approach, I hope future generations of hopeful children can also experience the benefits of geta from an early age—developing core strength, balance, and foot power.

Shimachan’s company (GETA LABO) offers uniquely designed geta based on scientific evidence, widely spreading “foot education culture” from children to seniors, including top athletes and national team players. Most importantly, their passion is intense!! Concerned about Japan’s future and children’s well-being. That’s why I strongly feel we should co-create the future together.

Wanting more children to experience the foot strength and growth Kaishu and Koda developed in childhood, we held repeated discussions—about a year ago, we began prototyping meetings with the evidence team—and now, ROOTS is born. Not just for aspiring athletes, but for anyone building their body for the future—please give it a try.

Building the Body’s Foundation from the Ground: Roots

Roots is a foot-education geta developed with a focus on the developmental stages of children’s feet.

It features a meticulously designed structure, developed through Balance Tech Kyoto’s proprietary evidence-based technology and manufacturing, under the supervision of the Sano family, ensuring children can wear it safely and naturally in daily life.

Its unique structure makes it easy to engage the toes, soles, and balance functions.

Gripping the thong activates the toes, while feeling the ground through the soles enables full-body balance. As children grow, the training focus naturally shifts—another key feature.

We aim to make this kind of body awareness a natural part of play and daily life.

Rather than special training, Roots supports foundational physical development within everyday routines.

That is Roots’ role.

GETA LABO’s Answer to Children’s Foot Education

“Maximizing the width of the tooth”—gently protecting incomplete skeletons while maximizing toe function

Children’s foot bones remain largely cartilaginous for a long time, making them soft and highly susceptible to external influences. For this developmental phase, our solution is a design philosophy: “maximizing the width of the tooth” among single-tooth geta.

Single-Tooth Geta Roots BIG③

① Instead of fixing the foot in a closed space (shoes), use open space (barefoot-like environment) to draw out the foot’s natural “adaptability.”

Traditional children’s footwear attempts to stabilize and protect the immature, unstable foot using external structures like “rigid heel counters and straps.”

ROOTS by GETA LABO stops confining feet in the closed space of shoes and instead provides an “open space that delivers exercise effects beyond barefoot.”

② Consistent pressure received over a “surface” and overwhelming stability

For children whose bones are not yet fully formed, conventional narrow single-tooth or double-tooth geta