kekonshiki!!

before i lived in japan, i was pretty curious about what japan was like, their social structure, their culture, the rules, what they wore, what schools were like, houses, cities - everything - i would have to say, i was curious about. the whole gamut. so i thought that since i got the opportunity recently to go a wedding here, i’d blog about it. the wedding took place between a friend, a welsh and fellow alt, dave, and a japanese gal, haruna.

from what an older japanese woman told me, there aren’t many completely traditional japanese weddings anymore. at those, the bride and groom put on traditional japanese clothing, and the ceremony itself is more honorific and serious. of course, a lot of the ceremony and reception would take place on the floor, particularly the reception.

but in today’s modern times, most couples choose a japanese ceremony with a contemporary reception. weddings, like the states, are extremely expensive. the dinner reception after every wedding is extravagant with fabulous food accompanied with ever-flowing beer, sake, and such. it is also customary to provide every guest with a gift bag.

so tiff, carrie, and i dolled up for the day and rode the train up to myoko mountain where the wedding was held. there were three main parts of the wedding. the first part was before the wedding. this part was for everyone to take photographs of the bride and groom together with each other and their families; there is no tradition in japan that the bride and groom must stay separate before the ceremony. then, everyone walked next door together for the actual ceremony of which i understood the words very little due to me not being able to hear and also the difficult words of the wedding context. i understood some of it anyway due to the motions and gestures. after the wedding, everyone headed back next door for the dinner ceremony. it was great fun; it was just like a big enkai (a two hour long party with food and drink), except that i knew few people. fabulous nonetheless, it carried on for about 3 hours, full of speeches, ceremonial walks around the room by dave and haruna, and a photo slideshow made by dave.

we all rode together from haruna’s family’s ryoko (japanese style inn) to the wedding location. many japanese still wear traditional dress to special occasions


still early in the day


as soon as we got there, we signed in under the groom’s side


before the ceremony, the bride and groom make a walk around the guests and then pose with each other for open picture opportunities for all the guests






there was also a chance to sign a sign-board made by dave


no photographs were allowed in the chapel during the ceremony.

afterwards, we were taken outside to a red carpet for haruna and dave to make their first walk as a married couple. it was really pretty; everyone was all smiles while filling the air with rose petals as they walked by


i thought i’d add this one to show wedding wear and japanese fashion




we listened to a few opening toasts and speeches. i caught some ojiisans dozing (grandfather)


and off to the reception after a few short minutes! dave’s mom was rightly-so emotional throughout the day




cutting the cake


this is a common wedding cake i believe. sometimes on tv, i’ll see wedding shows, and they always show the same type of cake. it had a really soft and delicate taste


another western practice


after, haruna changed her dress to a pretty pink reception dress; they made a round through the room




carrie was asked on the spot to give a toast; it was amusing watching her switch between english and japanese. well done carrie, i would have been pretty nervous myself . . .


dave and haruna presented their parents with teddy bears engraved with their names and birth weights. each bear weighed exactly how much they did when they were born as well, an incredibly sentimental and touching gift; an emotional moment


haruna’s parents bowing, expressing thanks


dave’s mom clutching onto her new dave-like teddy bear


and after the three hour party ended, i caught a shot of haruna’s brother, a friendly guy

another culture-filled typical day in the land of the rising sun . . .