Something old, something new, something borrowed … Today's Japanese couples enjoy weaving together their favorite rituals from ancient Japan and modern Western culture to create an unforgettable wedding day.
Japan's traditional Shinto wedding ceremony is very formal, and usually very private, with only close family and a few guests present. However, the ceremony is declining in popularity as nearly two-thirds of couples now choose a trip down the aisle, Western style.
The Shinto ceremony takes place at a shrine and symbolizes not only the union of two people, but the uniting of two families. As part of their wedding vows, the bride and groom exchange cups of sake (rice wine) in the san-san-kudo, or "three-times-three," ceremony. A Western-style ceremony may be held at a church or at one of the many wedding halls or hotels that have set up chapels specifically for that purpose. A minister may preside, but, since less than 1 percent of the population is Christian, it's unlikely that the couple will share his affiliation.
"Most people marry in Western style even though they are not Christian. It's just the fashion; it has nothing to do with religion," says Keiko Okano, a New York publicist who has attended many weddings in Japan. "They just think it's more romantic and appealing."
When a Japanese couple gets engaged, the man may give his fiancee an engagement ring, but the couple also exchanges nine lucky objects to symbolize their happiness:
- Awabi (abalone): for good wishes
- Kinpo-zutsumi: a ceremonial amount of money
- Katsuabushi (dried bonito) and surume (dried cuttlefish): preserved foods that symbolize lasting quality
- Yanagidaru: cash specifically for purchasing sake (rice wine)
- Suehiro: a fan as a symbol of happiness
- Konbu: kelp to ensure fertility and a healthy family
- Tomoshiraga: linen thread to signify strong ties in married life
- Mokuroku: a list of the lucky objects
