Wedding Ceremonies and Receptions

結婚式

A wedding in Japan today is a combination of customs long established since the Muromachi Period (1336-1573). and modern habits influenced by the West. People in the old days placed greater importance on the reception, which continued 3 daysand 3 nights, rather than a religious ceremony to announce the marriage and introduce the bride to the community.

The modern reception is performed in a showy way, full of flowers and music. After the introduction of the newlywed couple by the matchmaker, a wedding cake-cutting or “a candle-service” in which the couple go around the guest’ tables lighting candles, is celebrated as the high point of the reception. Then the bride retires for o-ironaoshi to change once or twice into a different outfit. Not strictly following the original custom but just as a part of the pageantry, even bridegrooms change today as if at a show.

Forms of Wedding

結婚式の形式

Shinto Ritual Wedding 65%

神前結婚式

Customarily only a limited number of relatives attend the ceremony in the Shinto prayers. The couple perform the ceremony of the “Three-times-three Exchange of Nuptial Cups” called “San-san-ku-do,” and each one offers a spring branch of a sacred tree to a god. All the attendants follow, sipping sake together to tighten the kinship of the two families.

Christian Ritual Wedding 25%

キリスト教式結婚式

Even if a couple is not baptized Christians, the number of people who choose a Christian wedding is increasing today. The change in meaning of the wedding, from a family event to a personal one, encourages young people to choose a chapel where anyone may attend to celebrate.

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Buddhist Ritual Wedding　　5～6%

仏前結婚式

A Buddhist monk reads a sutra and gives the couple incensed rosaries, a white one to the bridegroom and a red one to the bride. The couple offer incense to Buddha. The bride drinks sake to pledge twice, the groom, once, and the relatives follow to toast.

Average Wedding Expenses

婚約　Engagement 67.3万円

挙式　披露宴　Wedding Ceremony and Reception 288.1万円

新婚旅行　Honeymoon 105.8万円

新生活準備　Preparation for the New Life 295万円

合計( Total) : \7.562.000

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Rokuyo Calendar

六曜表

One month is divided into 5 Rokuyo weeks, each with 6 days. Each day on the lunar calendar is named according to the traditional system, and the corresponding days on the solar calendar are noted.

The Rokuyo calendar became popular at the very end of the Edo Period. It is used only in Japan and has no scientific background, yet people tend to stick to it in everyday live even today, such as in choosing a lucky day (Taian) to open a new shop or to start to build a new house.

先勝……(Sengachi, Sensho)

Lucky in the morning. You may do anything, even in haste. Unlucky in the afternoon

友引……(Tomobiki)

Lucky the whole day except at noon. Since tomobiki means “to pull friends,” no funerals are held this day so the deceased will not pull his friends along into the next world. Public crematories are closed.

先負……(Senmake, Senpu)

You should not do anything official or in haste. Very lucky in the afternoon.

仏滅……(Butsumetsu)

The most unlucky day. You should not do anything special or important, except attend a funeral.

大安……(Taian, Daian)

The most lucky day. You may do anything. Many weddings are held this day.

赤口……..(Jakko ,Jakku)

The Jakko-gad torments people this day. Unlucky the whole day except at noon.

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The Red Feather Community Chest Campaign

赤い羽根

In 1921, the first Community Chest Campaign in Japan was carried out. It is a

voluntary fund-raising movement of three months duration beginning in October, and

it is conducted under a provision of the Social Welfare Service Law enacted in 1951.

Campaigning in public places does not contribute significantly to the total amount

raised, but as it creates public awareness and understanding, celebrities volunteer

to stand as collectors on October 1st. Every year 2 million people, that is 1 in 60

Japanese, are involved as volunteers.

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Field Day

運動会

Field days are usually held on a Sunday so that feathers can attend. It is a family event

For those who have elementary schoolchildren. Not only parents but grandparents, brothers and sisters enjoy watching races and games and participating in

special programs for the guests. Sunday photographers are busy here and there on the field.

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Horse Racing

競馬

These past several years the JRA (Japan Racing Association) tried to change the image

of racing, placing commercial messages in the mass media.

Horse racing such as the Emperor’s Cup Horse Race in the spring in Tokyo as well as

the Japan Derby are most popular ones. More than 100.000 people enjoy the autumn

race, wagering over \30 billion, increasing yearly.

Even young women enjoy races today, and the tracks have become popular dating spots.