UnmissableJAPAN.com

Japanese Marriage Customs

The envolope for a set of photographs illustrating traditional Japanese wedding customs

This is the envelope in which the cards illustrating marriage customs were contained

I was recently shown a shown a set of photographs illustrating Japanese marriage customs, covering everything from the formal introduction of bride and groom prior to an arranged marriage, to taking the couple’s baby to be blessed at a Shinto shrine. As they give an interesting insight into wedding customs and the traditional view of marriage in Japan, I decided to make them available here, along with the captions supplied with the original set of photos. I don’t have any information about when they were produced, but I would guess they date from early in the twentieth century, although many of the customs survive to the present day. If you are able to suggest a more precise date please let me know. Finally, I’d like to express my gratitude to Wendy Hutchinson, whose photos these are, for allowing me to make them available on-line.

  1. First meeting
  2. Donation
  3. Bride’s furniture
  4. Exhibition of the bride’s bedclothes
  5. Exhibition of the bride’s dresses
  6. Exhibition of the bride’s tea-things
  7. Bride’s coming
  8. Nuptial ceremony
  9. Dress changing
  10. Nuptial rites
  11. Conjugal rites
  12. First calling
  13. Wearing band
  14. Parturition
  15. Health after delivery
  16. Shrine visiting
  17. Index

Any of these images may be reused under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. If you use a photo online you must link to this page. For offline use please credit http://www.UnmissableJapan.com/ Clicking on the images will bring up a larger view.

First meeting

OUR FACEBOOK PAGE   –    ABOUT US   –    LINKS

French and Belgium flags  INCONTOURNABLE JAPON EN FRANCAIS  Quebec and Bora Bora flags

Text copyright © 2010-2021 UnmissableJapan.com

Most photographs are used under Creative Commons licences – click on the images for details

Our favourite Japan-related websites

Buy direct from Japan at Takaski.com.

Find the best way to get anywhere in Japan with Train Route Finder.

Make your own free Japan E-postcards using Japan.CustomCards.biz.

Hear Japanese migrants’ life stories at Japanese on the Move.