Western Style Weddings in Japan
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A typical provider of western style weddings is John Cochrane. John has conducted hundreds of western style wedding services in the Kanto region, mainly in Tokyo and Yokohama.

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Note, this page also has a brief english-japanese wedding glossary and a western style wedding checklist.

Chapel

The wedding service is conducted in a chapel. The chapel can be a simple one or it can be quite elaborate. The wedding couple can choose the style that they feel is appropriate. Typically, the chapel is part of a larger facility designed for weddings, including a room suitable for the bride to dress and be made up, private rooms for the groom, the bride's father and any other important guest who needs a facility for changing and preparing. There is a place for the families to meet and formally introduce themselves, a studio for photographs, and of course, a suitable place for the reception party. Each part of the complex is staffed by highly trained professionals who make it their business to ensure the couple enjoy their special day.

Wedding Ceremony Rehearsal

The service is preceded by a rehearsal of the ceremony. The bride (shinpu) and groom (shinro) can therefore review the service and then put on their best performance with the minimum of stress. Then the guests and family enter the chapel and take their places.

Wedding Procession (shinpu no nyujo)

After a brief welcome and introduction, John announces the bride. The doors swing open and all faces turn to see the bride gracefully enter and walk down the aisle. Usually the bride is escorted on her father's arm. The wedding procession often includes a ring bearer, best man, ushers, bridesmaids or flower girls. "This is a magnificent moment" explains John. "The accompanying music can be a pipe organ, a choir, a trumpet, flute, Gospel singer, or whatever the couple want. We've even had Scottish bagpipes! Whatever is chosen, the music is always fabulous. Sometimes I want to tell the bride to go out and come in again, just so I can listen to the music one more time!".

Wedding Service (kekkon shiki)

Then the service starts. It follows the pattern of a traditional English Protestant marriage ceremony, largely unchanged for hundreds of years. The opening hymn is usually the Japanese version of 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus'. This is probably the most widely known Christian hymn in Japan, so everyone can join in. John is from England, and his mild, British accent gives the service a distinctive voice.

Part of Corinthians I chapter 13 is then read from the Bible. Cochrane says this reading does an amazing job of explaining what 'love' is, something great poets spend their whole lives trying to define better, but cannot!

After the bible reading, there is a prayer followed by a short message that explains the sanctity of marriage and the importance of the wedding vows (seiyaku). Then the bride and groom declare their wedding vows and exchange wedding rings (yubiwa no kokan). The chapel register (shomeisho) is signed and the marriage is announced (kekkon-sengen). This is usually followed by the "wedding kiss", and although some couples are shy to kiss even lightly in front of so many guests, it is a lovely, ancient display, demonstrating that the mutual seal of the contracts is made. The service concludes with another hymn and a benediction.

Languages

John will give the entire service in either Japanese or English, or the most popular option, using a mixture of both. When there is a mixture of the languages, Japanese is used for guiding the congregation when to stand, sit, applaud etc. The message is also given in Japanese so people can benefit from what Christ teaches about marriage. The prayers and blessings however, are spoken in English.

"The couple and guests know what the prayer is about, but generally they prefer to hear English words spoken; the same words are used in many Christian weddings in churches back home in England." says John.

Flexible options

The service program is very flexible. John will extend, shorten or change the order of the service to accommodate the wedding couple's wishes. Some couples request that the service include a candle lighting ceremony or add a personal touch by including speeches of congratulations or advice from family or friends. After the ceremony, as the wedding couple leave the chapel (fufu no taijo), there can be a flower shower, rice shower, pearl shower, streamers etc.

Wedding Reception and Superstitions

The wedding reception is a celebration, often with a several course dinner, live music, and dancing so that friends and family can toast the newly married couple and share in their happiness. Gifts may be presented to the couple to help them start out their new lives together.

There are many western wedding reception traditions or rituals, and some are continued in Japan. For example, "throwing the bouquet" is a popular ritual where the bride throws a bouquet backwards over her head to a crowd of the unmarried women (bachelorettes) in attendance. It is thrown backwards so she can't favor someone to catch it. Superstition has it, that the maiden who catches the bouquet will be the next one to get married. Another western tradition is for the bride's garter to be removed and then thrown by the groom to a group of single young men. The tradition of "throwing the garter" has not carried over to Japan wedding receptions.

It is also traditional to serve a large cake (usually depicted as multi-tier, but often a large flat cake). The couple perform their first act together as husband and wife, by jointly making the first cut of the cake together. They also serve each other the first bites of the cake. The cutting and serving is supposed to signify how they will be sharing everything going forward. Everyone is supposed to eat at least a little cake to bring the couple good luck.

Making arrangements and wedding planning using professionals

"Every effort is made to make the day perfect and to allow the couple to have the particular arrangements that they want." says John.

Brief Japanese Wedding Glossary

Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2004 Tex Texin. All rights reserved.
Pictures courtesy of John Cochrane.
Send comments to Tex Texin
This page last updated 2004-10-28
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