Japanese-style weddings aren't so common these days when compared to Christian-style, but you do still see them occasionally when visiting random shrines. Here is one I spotted while visiting Atsuta Shrine, which is a fairly important shrine in Nagoya.
The hat she is wearing is called a tsunokakushi (角隠し). There is also a hood called a watabōshi (綿帽子). Traditionally the watabōshi is for the ceremony and the tsunokakushi is the reception. It is said that the watabōshi came about to cover the bad spirits that evidently exist in long hair, and the tsunokakushi is to cover the bride's horns (anger, jealousy) and symbolize her obedience to her husband.
Atsuta Shrine is a popular shrine for weddings. What I wrote above, that it is a fairly important shrine, is an understatement. It is actually one of the three most important shrines in Japan, along with Ise Shrine and Meiji Shrine. Atsuta is supposedly the location of the Imperial Sword, Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (草薙の剣), one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan, sacred objects that confirm the divinity of the Imperial Line and are required to be present at the enthronement ceremony of new emperors.
I'll write more about these objects in the future. Obviously they almost certainly don't exist, but they might, and that possibility creates some level of excitement.
Back to the hat—it comes with a wig. That's not her real hair. I have been told by women who have worn it that it is very heavy and hurts their neck. The things we do for a nice wedding, eh?
Copyright © David LaSpina 2018, but almost free to use due to the generous Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license. Spiffy! More details here.
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Don't miss the other great photos in the People of Japan series!
 | David LaSpina is an American photographer lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time. More? |
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