Darima Xu
It’s been said that a Japanese bride can symbolize the female version of the male lion, the Yomi. While this may be a bit of an exaggeration, the symbolic connection between a Japanese bride and the mighty creature is strong, as many Japanese brides choose to wear kimono, the traditional dress worn by Japanese men. If you think you’d make a great Japanese bride, here are some tips to get you started.
Japanese brides are becoming more popular in western countries for several reasons, not least because they are beautiful and come from a culture that believes every man is a gentleman. The whole idea goes back to early settlers of North America, who would write to Europe in order to find a bride. To understand why beautiful Japanese women choose to be mail order brides, you have to clear away some of the more common myths associated with this type of marriage.
- Firstly, it is important to state that there is no set period of time during which a Japanese women must be married. The final thoughts of a Japanese women are not set in stone like those of a European woman. The fact of the matter is that many Japanese women have husbands from different regions of Japan. If she is truly committed to her marriage, she will travel to the regions of her husband and marry him there. She does not have to live in one country, if she chooses to do so.
- Secondly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the idea of a white man marrying a Japanese woman because of their skin color. If a white man wants to marry a Japanese woman, he may think about his wife’s skin color, or his own cultural roots when choosing which bride to marry. In Japan, the bride does not have to be pure, she can have Japanese blood as well as Japanese skin. This is simply something that some cultures would prefer to preserve and do not want their women to have.
As any new bride knows, the first thing you’ll want to do is have enough time to prepare for your wedding. A traditional Japanese wedding is a big affair, filled with elaborate decorations and preparations. For a bride in the modern world, this might seem excessive; however, if you think long-term you’ll be able to enjoy the festivities for years to come. You can help shorten the planning period by consulting with local etiquette specialists and designers before you start anything, such as contacting photographers or banquet halls.
While Japanese brides tend to be more traditional than foreign men, they’re not necessarily traditional only by tradition. On average, Japanese brides dress more conservatively than their western counterparts. This doesn’t mean they’re less beautiful, though! You’ll notice that Japanese brides wear kimono from head to toe, so it’s easy to understand why they don’t feel the need to show off their dazzling bouquets or expensive jewelry. After all, the point of a kimono is to be practical, right?
A traditional Japanese bride’s dowry will not be quite as substantial as it would be for a western man. In most cases, a dowry simply signifies the dowry money that the family will use to send the bride’s newborn child home with them when they come to visit. On the other hand, some families will agree to pay for at least a part of the dowry in order to ensure the financial security of their daughter. For Japanese brides, this may come in handy if their family can’t afford to support her right away, because the dowry is often used to pay for her future home, schooling, etc. It can be used to help her get through the initial few years of her new life in Japan.
Important traditions that Japanese brides adhere
First of all, Japanese brides must always be dressed in black. It’s a cultural norm that a Japanese bride must always look like she belongs to the male population, but western girls have the option of choosing the color of their clothing. Most young Japanese girls, however, choose to stick with their classic black kimono skirts.
Another tradition that the Japanese brides keep is to use fake nails. In the old days, many Japanese women would be seen out shopping with their nails stained with henna. While it has become less common to see a Japanese bride in the streets with stained nails, these days Japanese women still use henna for their nails. If you’re planning to marry a Japanese woman, it would probably be best to keep your nails short, just in case your wife decides to dye her normally pretty nails a different color!
Many Japanese brides still adhere to the old tradition of having a Japanese groom deliver the wedding cake to the female attendants. The reason for this tradition is so the women could make small cards with the groom’s name and three, or the bride’s name and title. These cards are then brought to the wedding site and exchanged between the two families. Some Japanese women also believe that if the groom makes an auspicious fortune with his new bride, then the small cards will bring them both happiness in their new married life together.
Finally, some Japanese brides only wear kimono for their wedding ceremony, because the traditional Japanese bridal gown is so uncomfortable and cumbersome. Many Japanese women also choose to wearimono as their only attire on their wedding day, and wear it down the aisle. When visiting Japan, plan to spend time in one of the many traditional Japanese households that traditionally wear kimono on their wedding day. I’m sure you’ll be impressed by the traditional, beautiful Japanese bridal dresses worn by these lovely women.