I have recently photographed a traditional Japanese wedding in Miami. Priscilla has made some research to find out more about this beautifully rich wedding culture. I hope you enjoy it.
There is an ancient Japanese myth that claims that all things were created by the marriage of the female and male gods, named Izanami and Izanagi which are the Japanese equivalent of Adam & Eve. Legend has it that these two gods came down from the heavens to the earth on a bridge that looked like a rainbow. Out their union (a marriage) became what was known as the world; the sun, moon, mountains, trees and wind.
With getting engaged, there are two types of spouse selection that occur. It can be an arranged marriage, called a miai, or a love a match, called a ren ai. The engagement is then sealed with as special ceremony called the yunio. Presents are given to the couple that is wrapped in ornate rice paper. The gifts are quite unique because they include traditional items that symbolize the parts of a marriage. The items include a kelp, which is a character that can be written to mean “child-bearing” woman; a linen thread that symbolizes gray hair when they get older; and a folded fan that spreads out to demonstrate wealth in the future.
A Japanese wedding falls into two categories: a traditional Shinto ceremony and Western-style ceremonies and they typically take place where any other wedding is held: wedding halls, chapels, churches or hotels. There are many different religious styles in Japan and can be either Shinto, Christia, Buddhist or any non-religious style as well. Due to the climate in Japan, weddings typically take place in the spring or fall. There are also certain dates that are thought to be lucky so it’s not uncommon to see many couples getting married on the same day.
A “typical” Japanese wedding is Shinto-style (Shinto means “the way of Kami or Gods) and is held at a shrine. In all weddings in Japan, a bride will wear a traditional kimono called a shiromuku. This stands for a while kimono robe, so it is similar to a wedding gown. For the Japanese, white also means both a beginning and end as well as being pure. It’s a beginning because she is reborn as a member of her husband’s family but she also “dies” as her father’s daughter. The groom on the other hand will wear a montsuki (a black formal kimono). On the groom’s kimono, there will be his family crest in white in five different places on it. He also wears a hakama, which is a pleated skirt. Many times, the kimonos are passed down to each generation in a family.
Prior to the wedding, the bride is painted in pure white from her head down to her toes. This is done because it demonstrates her maiden status to the gods. The bride also will wear her kimono in addition to a headpiece that is filled with ornaments. These ornaments are used to wish good luck to the happy couple. Instead of a veil, the bride wears a white hood which hides her “horns of jealousy” from the groom’s mother because the bride will now be the head of the family, not the mother of the groom. The bride may also change several times during the ceremony, usually wearing different patterned kimonos that are reserved for young, unmarried women because this is the last time that she can wear that type of kimono. In Japan, purple is the color of love so you will also see many iris flowers at the wedding.
At other weddings around the world, during the ceremony, guests sit facing towards the bride and groom. In Japan, the families face each other. During the ceremony, the kami is honored. The kami are the spirits that are inherent in the natural world. There is a purification ceremony for the mind, body and soul which the priest uses a special branch called the harai-gushi, and then blesses the bride and groom. And just like wine is a large part of the wedding celebration for religious reasons, guests as well as the bride and groom drink nine cups of sake. After this, the bride and groom are considered united. The families drink it to symbolize the joining of the families. Typically, there are also no bridesmaids or groomsmen at the wedding either. Instead there is a nakoudo, which stands for matchmaker. This is an older married couple that attends the wedding ceremony.
One decoration that you will see at the reception is 1,001 paper cranes. The Japanese believe that the crane is a symbol of prosperity and longevity. It’s a tradition for the bride and her family to fold 1,001 gold origami cranes. They believe that these cranes will bring good luck, fidelity and peace to the marriage.
After the wedding ceremony, the bride changes into a red kimono and later into a more traditional wedding gown. At the reception, called the kekkon hiroen, guests play games, skits and sing karaoke. Every type of food dish that is served during the reception has a symbolic wish. One thing that is served is konbu because the word sounds like the last half of the word for joy, yorokobu. Clams can be served with the shells together with each halve symbolizing the couple. Lobster can also be served because the red symbolizes luck.
It’s also a tradition to distribute favors to the guests called Hikidemono. Favors that are typically given out include dried sugar which stands for happiness to the Japanese. It was not until recently that more western gifts of giving out a clock or candies has been incorporated. In addition, other western-style traditions such as tossing the bouquet are starting to be seen more and more at Japanese weddings.
While the Japanese Shinto-style weddings have helped keep the traditional elements into the wedding, this culture has not been afraid to incorporate more western-style elements into the special day either. But the one thing that is the most important is that this day is about bringing two people and two families together for a day of love and celebration.
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