Effect of Wearing Tabi Shoes During Forest Walks on Sensitivity to Nature

Abstract

  This study examines changes in mood, attention, and experience during forest walking using tabi shoes, footwear designed to enhance tactile perception, and evaluates whether it leads to greater sensitivity to nature. In June 2023, 39 adults participated in forest walking while wearing their usual shoes or tabi shoes. Their changes in mood, attention, natural awareness, and the induction of tabi-specific experiences were evaluated. The results revealed that during the tabi-wearing walks, participants were divided into two groups: one in which negative moods (such as anxiety and tension) increased and the another in which they did not. Additionally, the way attention was directed and the motivations for experiencing tabi-specific sensations differed between the groups. These findings suggest that walking in tabi shoes may change natural awareness and enhance sensitivity to nature, indicating its potential applications in future nature-based activities.