Japanese weddings, as long as they are not western-style ceremonies, are held by strict Shinto traditions.
Shinto weddings, Shinzen kekkon, began in Japan during the early 20th century, popularized after the marriage of Crown Prince Yoshihito and his bride, Princess Kujo Sadako. The ceremony relies heavily on Shinto themes of purification, and involves ceremonial sake drinking of three cups three times, the nan-nan-san-ku-do. Shinto weddings are in decline. Fewer Japanese people get married, and those who do often choose Western-style chapel ceremonies.
A Shinto wedding ceremony is typically a small affair, limited to family, while a reception is open to a larger group of friends. The ceremony typically takes 20 to 30 minutes. Food items, including salt, water, rice, sake, fruit, and vegetables, are left at a ceremonial wedding altar, which also holds the wedding rings.
A Shinto priest stands to the right of the altar, while a shrine maiden, Miko, stands to the left. The couple will often stand in the center of the room, while closest family members stand behind tables containing sake and small fruits.
The couple approaches the altar, where the groom reads his vows while the bride listens. Reflecting a history of arranged marriage in Japan, a nakodo, or “matchmaker,” will be thanked in the vows. If no matchmaker exists, a friend or family member will be appointed to fill the role, serving a role similar to the “best man” or “bridesmaid.” Then, the families join in with the drinking of sake and a traditional cheer of “kampai.”
In the final portion of the ceremony, the priest offers Japanese evergreen to the altar, said to reflect gratitude to the spirits who blessed the union. The bride and groom follow with their own offering, then a representative from each family, often the fathers of the bride and groom. The rings are then presented.
Shinto brides and grooms typically wear a kimono. The bride wears a traditional kimono, oftentimes combined with a wig. There is also a paper hat, a tsuno-kakushi, or “horn hider,” meant to conceal the “horns” of jealous demons. Typical colors for this kimono include red and white, colors of Shinto purity.
Japanese Shinto weddings are overseen by priests, but often take place in hotels or in special venues designed to accommodate weddings. As Japan’s marriage rate declines, fewer Shinto weddings are being performed; the number has dropped from 90% of ceremonies to 50% since the 1990s. Japanese weddings more often reflect a Christian wedding ceremony, regardless of the personal faith of the married couple.
A lot of couples in Fukuoka are getting married at the Kego shrine, if you are lucky you’ll get the chance to see a real Shinto wedding !
