JAPANESE WEDDING

Contemporary Japanese weddings are celebrated in a great variety of ways. Many contain traditional Japanese and Western elements side by side. A wedding may be Shinto, Christian, Buddhist, or non-religious styles. Couples choose the style of their ceremonies, and it doesn't necessarily match with one's religion. Non-Christian couples often have their weddings at chapels in Japan

Traditionally, the religious wedding ceremony is held in Shinto style at a shrine.

SHINTO WEDDING

Shinto means “the way of the Kami” (Gods).

Shinto Wedding in the current form originated from the wedding ceremony held in 1900 of the then Crown Prince, subsequently the Emperor Taisho, at the Shinto Sanctuary in the Imperial Palace. Since then, a Shinto style wedding ceremony based upon the ceremony held at the Imperial Court was spread among the people.

In Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, a wedding ceremonies are performed at the Maiden (Lower Worship Hall) or at Wakamiya Shrine. The Maiden is a building of symbolic importance for wedding ceremonies since it is located on the site where the legendary dancer, the Lady Shizuka, performed her dedicatory dances for her lover, Minamoto Yoshitsune.

Nowadays, this shrine may be located inside the hotel where the festivities take place. A Shinto priest conducts the ceremony, which is visited by only the close family members of the couple.

Brides wear traditional white kimono called shiromuku, and grooms wear montsuki (black formal kimono), haori (kimono jacket), and hakama (kimono pants). Shiro means white and maku meaning pure. The bride’s hair is styled in the traditional style and adorned with beautiful ornaments, combs and accessories. Traditional Japanese music consisting of flutes is performed by artists.

~Order of the Ceremony~

1. Sanshin (Procession) 参進

Ritual musicians and a Shinto maiden lead the bride and groom and the other wedding participants to the Maiden or Wakamiya shrine.

2. Shubatsu-no-gi (Purification) 修祓の儀

At the beginning of the ceremony, a Shinto priest purifies the bride and groom, and the assembled congregation.

 

3. Norito-soujou (Formula- Prayer) 祝詞奏上

A Shinto priest reads out the prayer to announce the marriage to Hachiman Okami (deities) and seek the blessing and protection of the kami to the couple.

4. Kaguramai (Dedication of Sacred Dance) 神楽舞

A Shinto maiden dedicates a sacred dance.

 

5. Chikai-no-sakazuki (Exchange of Nuptial Cups) 誓いの盃

The bride and groom exchanges nuptial cups three times and drink three sips from each of the three cups of the rice wine that was placed before the kami. This is generally called “san-san-kudo 三々九度” (literally, three three nine, referring to the three sips from three cups, total of nine sips).

 

6. Seishi-soujou (Vow) 誓詞奏上

The bridal couple approaches the altar and groom reads out the marriage vow in Japanese.

7. Tamagushi-hairei (Tamagushi Offerings) 玉串拝礼

This Ritual represents the safe end of the ceremony. Bridal couple receives the sakaki branch from the shrine maiden and places it at the altar. Bridal couple bows twice and claps twice. The bride and groom make offerings of Tamagushi to the kami to vow their marriage.

 

8. Yubiwa-no-gi (Exchange of Rings) 指輪の儀

First the groom gives bride ring and then bride gives groom ring.

 

9. Shinzokuhai-no-gi (Drinking the Rice Wine Together) 親族盃の儀

To make a strong bond between the couple’s relatives, they share the rice wine dedicated to the kami.

After the ceremony, the couple welcomes all the guests, and the reception party called "kekkon hiroen" is held. Usually the party is visited by about 20 to 200 guests among whom are relatives, friends, co-workers and bosses of the bride and groom. People usually dress formally to attend a wedding. Female guests wear dresses, suits, or kimono. Male guests commonly wear black formal suits. The party normally starts with the introductions of the bride and groom.

Afterwards, a meal is held and several guests make contributions such as speeches, songs and the like. During the whole celebrations, the groom and especially the bride may change their dresses several times. At the very end of the party, the couple will make a speech to all the guests and thank everybody.

During recent decades, Japanese couples have introduced many Western elements to Japanese weddings. Many brides chose to wear white, Christian style dresses, and some religious ceremonies are even held completely in Christian style at a Christian church even though the couple may not be Christian. The ritual of cake cutting, the exchange of rings and honeymoons are a few other very common adopted elements.

Recently, the number of Japanese couples who hold their wedding ceremony outside of Japan has also increased. One reason for this phenomenon is the fact that by marrying abroad, the honeymoon can be combined with the ceremony and the number of guests and, therefore, the overall costs for the event can be reduced.

References:

1. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2061.html

2. http://www.tsurugaoka-hachimangu.jp/shinto_is/shinto_wedding.html 3. http://kyoto-weddings.jp/ceremony-guide.html 4. Wikipedia