Weddings in Japan

I recently moved here from Japan where I have lived and worked on and off for the last few years. I worked as a wedding photographer for a few "Wedding Chapels" in the Tokyo area. In Japan the photographer is more likely to be an employee/contractor for one of these venues rather than freelance. It's VERY difficult for a foreigner to get a business going there. Many Japanese couples want a Western style wedding now so the more "Guijin" (foreigners) employed by the chapel the better. It's all for the ambiance. Even the officiant is just an actor saying the lines! Very seldom is he actually a real Pastor. It's both sad and funny at the same time, but very Japanese!

More and more couples are opting for the western style wedding as it's "kakoi" (Cool). It seems like western culture is really taking root over there with the younger generation of Japanese. My wife says it's because the wedding kimono is so expensive and uncomfortable! When we got married she wanted to wear a traditional American bridal gown. Whatever the reason, could be their way of rebelling against the old school ways? Or perhaps it's just the same as with us here where many of us enjoy learning and experiencing diffrent cultures. There are so many good things about their culture like strong family ties, respect for elders, low violent crime and taking responsibility for their own actions that I hope will never change.

The couple above are dressed in the traditional wedding kimono. You may recognize the temple behind them. It is Kiyomizu-Dera in Kyoto. The temple dates back to 798 but the present buildings were constructed in 1633. One of the oldest wooden buildings in the world! The temple takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills.