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Japanese wedding customs fall into two categories: traditional Shinto ceremonies, and modern Western-style weddings. In either case, the couple must first be legally married by filing for marriage at their local government office, and the official documentation must be produced in order for the ceremony to be held. Traditionally, marriages were categorized into two types according to the method of finding a partner—''miai'', meaning arranged or resulting from an arranged introduction, and ''ren'ai'', in which the principals met and decided to marry on their own—although the distinction has grown less meaningful over postwar decades as the proportion of ''miai'' matches has dwindled.〔Edwards, Walter (1989). Modern Japan through its Weddings: Gender, Person, and Society in Ritual Portrayal. Stanford University Press.〕 The Japanese bride-to-be may be painted pure white from head to toe, visibly declaring her maiden status to the Gods. Two choices of headgear exist. One, the ''watabōshi'', is a white hood; the other, called the ''tsunokakushi'', serves to hide the bride's 'horns of jealousy.' It also symbolizes the bride's intention to become a gentle and obedient wife. Traditional Japanese wedding customs (shinzen shiki) involve an elaborate ceremony held at a Shinto shrine. Japanese weddings are becoming increasingly extravagant. However, in some cases, younger generations choose to abandon the formal ways by having a "no host party" for a wedding.〔Lebra, T, Sugiyama (1984). Japanese women: constraint and fulfillment. Honolulu University of Hawaii Press, Retrieved 10 January 2009, from NetLibrary〕 In this situation, the guests primarily consist of the couple's friends who pay an attendance fee. Couples are officially married once they have successfully submitted the required documents to the city hall registrar to change their status in their family registries. No ceremony of any kind is required under Japanese law.〔Embassy of the United States: Japan, (Marriage in Japan ). Accessed 29 August 2008.〕〔(Western Style Weddings in Japan: Are they real weddings? ) Seiyaku.com. Accessed 29 August 2008.〕 ==Western-style ceremonies== Western-style wedding ceremonies are currently very popular in Japan.〔(''Faking it as a priest in Japan'' ), the BBC〕 These ceremonies are modeled on a traditional or stereotypical chapel wedding. In recent years, the Western-style wedding has become the choice of some couples in Japan.〔(Western Style Weddings in Japan, seiyaku.com )〕 An industry has sprung up, dedicated to providing couples with a ceremony modeled after western weddings. Japanese Western-style weddings are generally held in a chapel, either in a simple or elaborate ceremony, often at a dedicated wedding chapel within a hotel. The "ministers" of these marriages are often not actual Christians. In general, even true Christians administering the marriage are discouraged from actual proselytizing.〔http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/07/09/2003262800〕 There is no perceived contradiction in participating in a Western wedding with Christian iconography. Japanese people are culturally Buddhist and Buddhism still remains the religion of the majority. Most couples choose their wedding style, not for any religious reason, but rather as a fashion statement. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Marriage in Japan」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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