The Wedding Ceremony in Japan

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The Wedding Ceremony in Japan

The current style of Japanese wedding ceremonies has become a unique blend of traditional Japanese and more modern Western elements. Western-style church ceremonies are popular, Making up 60% of the total wedding ceremonies held in Japan. Often a wedding hall built to look like a real church is used, in which case the religion has almost no relevance.

Shinzen-shiki

A traditional Japanese wedding ceremony is called “shinzen-shiki.” In this ceremony, the couple makes their wedding vows to God through a shinto priest at a shrine. The groom wears montsuki-hakama (men’s formal wear), while the bride wears a pure white wedding kimono (shiromuku) and a white head-covering hood (wataboshi.) Shiromuku or white kimono symbolizes that “the bride is ready to be dyed with the color of the groom’s family.” Wataboshi or wadded hood is worn deeply to hide the bride’s face, so that “she does not show her face to anyone except the groom, until the end of wedding ceremony.” After exchanging wedding vows, the couple also exchange “cups” which is a vow or binding ritual known as “san-san-kudo.” In this ritual, which is the equivalent to the kiss in a Western style wedding, the couple takes turns drinking sake from the same cup.

Oironaoshi

Today’s young couples are greatly attracted to Western-style weddings in particular the wedding dress. While their parents, from an older generation, wish to see the bride-to-be dress up in a traditional Japanese Kimono. Such different opinions may cause conflicts. In this situation, the best solution is oironaoshi, which is the practice that allows the groom and bride change outfits during the reception held after the wedding ceremony. For example, the bride wears a wedding dress in the wedding ceremony and a traditional Japanese Kimono in the reception. Many couples change outfits once, but some couples repeat the practice three or four times! (English: Chizuko Matsufuji, Proofreader: Rita)