Marriage is one of the crucial aspects of Japanese culture, and a Japanese wedding is a colorful event filled with unique customs and practices that still exist even in today's world. In every step of the wedding, from the Shinto rites to the wedding banquet, Japanese weddings are a beautiful blend of the old and the new. Wedding traditions in Japan encompass Shinto ceremonies, symbolic kimonos, and sake rituals. However, Buddhist-Shinto religious practices are common in Japan, about 70% of Japanese lean towards non-religious or secular beliefs. This trend reflects a cultural shift towards individual spirituality and a less formal adherence to traditional religious institutions and rituals in contemporary Japanese society.
This blog provides detailed descriptions of some of the most popular Japan wedding traditions, focusing on the Shinto wedding, the ceremony's attire, and modern wedding preparations.
A Shinto wedding ceremony and the subsequent reception, often held at a hotel, are the main components of a Japanese wedding. Shinto focuses on the Kami concepts, which are gods and spirits associated with nature and ancestors. For several centuries, people have been performing certain rites during the ceremony, which is highly spiritual.
Among the most important ceremonies of the Shinto wedding is the so-called San-san-kudo, or sake ceremony. The bride and groom then drink three times from three different glasses each, acknowledging their new family unity.
Another important part of the Shinto wedding is the Tamagushi offering, in which the bride and groom present a branch of the sacred Sakaki tree with paper streamers to the kami. This offering is meant to express our gratitude and seek blessings upon their marriage.
When it comes to Japanese wedding traditions, they have a tradition of beautiful wedding dresses, and the bride's dress is one of the most elaborate and traditional. The bride usually wears a shiromuku, a white kimono that represents the beginning of a new life.
The outfit is complete with a headpiece known as the tsunokakushi, which conceals the horns of jealousy that every bride is believed to possess and symbolizes her intention to become a gentle and obedient wife.
During the reception, the bride usually wears a colorful iro-uchikake, which is a kimono that has embroidery. This change of clothing has to do with her coming of age from an unmarried woman to a married woman.
The groom wears a fine montsuki haori hakama, which consists of a formal kimono, a pleated trouser, and a short jacket with the family emblem. The attire depicts the groom's family legacy and his role as household head.
Today, the majority of Japanese couples prefer to have Shinto weddings, although such weddings have elements of Western culture, such as white wedding dresses, tuxedos, and Christian-like ceremonies. These weddings typically take place in chapels, complete with a wedding reception and ring exchange.
Another important part of modern Japanese wedding traditions is the reception, which includes food, toasts, and entertainment. Another interesting tradition is Kagami-Biraki, where the couple opens a bottle of sake and offers it to the guests, signifying that the couple wants to share their joy and happiness with everyone.
Gift-giving is another significant aspect. The attendees usually provide money in decorative paper called shugi-bukuro, which helps the couple pay for the wedding costs and is a sign of support.
Japanese weddings are a beautiful blend of ancient rituals and contemporary practices, reflecting the country's deep respect for tradition and its openness to new influences. Japan wedding traditions include Shinto ceremonies, brides in white kimonos, and grooms in formal attire.
From the holy Shinto rituals to the stunning phenomenon of a kimono, or the combination of traditional and contemporary styles, Japanese weddings embody the sanctity of marriage and the unity of two families. This generation continues to carry over these wedding traditions in Japan, constantly improving and adapting to the newer and more modern generations.