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Published: March 15th 2007
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As promised, here are some photos from the wedding reception I attended on Saturday. In many ways it was similar to a Western reception; it was held in Kagoshima’s swanky Hotel Welview and consisted of an 8-course traditional Japanese dinner, a beautiful cake and copious amounts of champagne, beer and shochu (the drink of choice down here, made with fermented sweet potatoes). Everyone was seated around round-tables in a reception hall with a head table for the bride and groom up front.
As usual, speeches were made by several people, though these seemed to be more professional than at a Western reception: our school Vice Principal made a speech to the groom (my coworker) and I have a feeling the bride’s employer did the same for her. Maybe their friends spoke, though I couldn’t understand enough of what was being said to know for sure. There was also entertainment in the form of a debate about whether “Kazuto-sensei” would make a suitable husband or not, courtesy of our English Club Students. This was followed by a magic act.
The biggest difference from what I’ve experienced before was that only the bride and grooms’ immediate family members attended the wedding
First Course
The presentation is always beautiful for traditional meals. ceremony. Most of the guests were just there for the reception.
When we arrived we had to register at a desk set up to receive envelopes of money (which are given instead of gifts). Andrew and I gave about $100 dollars each, though I hear it is standard to offer $300-$500 dollars or more depending on the type of relationship you have with the person getting married.
On our way into the hall we congratulated the bride, groom and their parents by bowing and saying, “Omedeto gozaimasu (let’s celebrate).” The bride looked stunning in her first outfit of the evening: a traditional white kimono with elaborate hair-piece.
The celebration started as the bride and groom proceeded through the center of the room to the head table. After some introductory speeches and a “Campai (cheers),” we watched a photo-historic slideshow of the newlyweds from childhood until now. Afterwards the guests ate while the bride and groom left the room to change into their second outfits: a white Western-style wedding dress and tux respectively.
Each time the couple entered or left the room the lights would dim and a spotlight would be shone on them as they proceeded
Mai-chan
Mai looking stunning as always. to accompanying music. After making the first cut in the wedding cake (about half-way through the meal) with a knife that looked more like a samurai sword than a utensil, they left the room again for the bride to change into her third and final outfit.
They returned with Eriko in a frilly pink dress carrying a long golden lighter with which they lit candles in the center of each table, as well as a large heart-shaped flower and candle arrangement at the head table. After posing for photos, the couple presented flowers to their in-laws before the reception ended.
Of course this was only the end of the formal part. There is never just one party in Japan - the first one is always followed by a second one (called a “nijikai”) and sometimes by a third. For the nijikai we went to a swanky bar called “The Old Barrel” in the heart of Kagoshima City. Only the bride and groom’s friends came to this party so it was a little more intimate than the reception. For about $30 we had two hours of all-you-can-eat-and-drink. I was fully stuffed from trying to consume everything that had been
Kimono Time
Bride and Groom in their first outfits. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get a single good picture of them when they walked past my table. This one will have to do. placed in front of me at the reception (including two pieces of wedding cake!) but I think I managed to drink my $30 worth. One of my coworkers had been a bartender at the bar before he became a teacher so he ordered most of my drinks for me - sometimes two at a time!
After that party wound down and the wedding crowd disbanded I found myself at my friend Zach’s apartment with some other ALTs who were just getting ready for a night of dancing. I had been craving some dance action for weeks so I slipped back into my high heels and headed out with Gemma and Emily.
Once at the club, we met up with renowned Kagoshima DJ, Innocent; a Tanzanian student on scholarship at the University of Kagoshima. I usually find the Kagoshima party scene to be pretty disappointing since it’s so low key, but Innocent can liven up any party. He is a dancing fiend and it was all downhill after I accepted his challenge to dance for four hours in a row.
We partied until 4:30am and in doing so I discovered the secret to Kagoshima’s scene. Most clubs stay
Wedding Samurai
Bride and Groom in their 2nd outfits of the evening wielding the sword-like cake knife. open until 5 or 6 in the morning so the party only really seems to get going at 3. I guess we Westerners don’t usually have the stamina to stay out that late, but it was amazing to see the club packed with all sorts of people rocking out in all sorts of ways.
Sunday was a bit rocky as my stomach seemed upset about all the food and alcohol I’d put in it the day before, but the party was worth every minute of discomfort. I don't know if I could handle this every weekend, but I can’t wait to do it again!
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Dana
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wow what an interesting experience, sounds like it was a lot of fun!