Japanese Marriage presents a mixed blend of various customs. In Japan, marriage is an occasion for gathering, fun and frolic. It is practiced with the rituals which represent it as a sacred union of two souls. Once girls and boys are of the age to marry, a search for the suitable match is set. In ancient Japanese myth, all things were created by the marriage of the male and female gods, ‘Izanagi’ and ‘Izanami’, who were basically Japan’s Adam and Eve. According to legend, these two gods came down to primeval earth from the heavens on a rainbow bridge. Out of their union came the islands of Japan, the sun, the moon, the mountains, the trees and the wind.
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The Engagement
The engagement is sealed by a ceremony called the ‘yunio’. The highlight of this ceremony is the giving of symbolic gifts wrapped in ornate rice paper. The gifts include: dried cuttlefish, for its phallic shape; kelp or ‘konbu’ because it looks like the character that can be written to mean “child-bearing woman”; a long, linen thread to symbolize the gray hair of old age; and a folded fan which spreads out to show future wealth and growth in numbers.
The Wedding Outfits
The all-white silk wedding kimono dates back to the ‘Edo’ era (1700-1900) and the traditions of the brides of the samurai. White symbolizes both a new beginning and an end, because the bride “dies” as her father’s daughter and is reborn a member of her husband’s family. The bride traditionally wears her hair up, fastened by tortoise-shell combs. A white cloth and veil cover her head, and her face is painted creamy white. The bride changes several times, once to an ornate gold, silver and red robe embroidered with symbols on it such as cranes and flowers, and again to a deep-colored, highly patterned kimono usually reserved for young, unmarried women. This is the last time she will be able to wear this kimono. Irises are a beautiful choice for the Japanese American bride; the color purple is the color of love in Japan and was used at m,any an ancient wedding. The groom wears a black silk kimono with his family crest on it in white, in five different places. Under this kimono is a striped, pleated skirt, or hakama. The man would carry a white folded fan and wore white sandals. Many Japanese Americans still treasure kimonos handed down through the generations. Renting an outfit is quite expensive: One New York store charges upwards of $1,600, which includes the services of a professional to dress you.
The Ceremony
The traditional Shinto ceremony honors the ‘kami’, the spirits inherent in the natural world. After a purification ceremony using a special branch called the ‘harai-gushi’, the priest calls to the gods to bless the couple. The ceremony ends with a ritual sharing of sake from three flat cups stacked on top of one another. Popularly called ‘san-san-kudo’, this ritual can be performed any number of ways, depending on the family’s customs. The groom may lead, taking three sips from the first cup, followed by the bride, who also takes three sips from the first cup. Then they move on to the second and third cups. The sake is then offered to the couple’s families. In the U.S., Japanese Americans seeking a traditional ceremony turn to the country’s Buddhist traditions. One highlight of the ceremony is the rosary, or ‘o juju’, which has 21 beads of two different colors. Eighteen beads represent the couple, two represent each family, and one represents the Buddha. Joined on one string, the beads symbolize the joining of the families. The san-san-kudo, more cultural than religious, is also performed at the Buddhist ceremony.
The Food
Each dish in the Japanese wedding banquet is a symbolic wish–for happiness, prosperity, long life or many children. For example, ‘konbu’ is served because the word sounds like the last half of the word for joy, yorokobu. Fish can be served with the tail and head forced up from the plate forming a circle, the symbol of eternity. Clams are served with both shells together, the two halves symbolizing the couple. Lobster is often served for its deep red color, the color of luck. The number of courses never equals a multiple of four, since the word for four, ‘shi’, sounds like the word for death. For dessert, a Japanese bride might choose to serve ‘komochi manjyu’, which is made of
gummy, sweetened rice with fillings inside.
For your traditional Japanese wedding, make sure you hire the best! For over 25 years, Babylon Productions has been servicing weddings in the G T A, and around the globe! We respect every tradition and culture, and if there is anything you require for your traditional Japanese wedding then ask us! We will try to accommodate your every need. If you want a DJ that plays Japanese music, or if you want a singer or live band that speaks Japanese, we can help. We can also provide videographers to capture your wedding on film, and edit as you please. Afterward, we can even add a soundtrack with traditional Japanese wedding music on it, or any songs you choose. Our expert photographers will capture your special moments as you arrive in one of our stylish stretch limousines. Don’t allow the novices to plan your wedding. Allow Babylon, the wedding experts, to ensure your needs are met and your wedding day is perfect!
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