KAZUNO, Akita — A wedding ceremony was recently held for the first time at a venue where visitors can observe the gorgeously decorated floats of Hanawa Bayashi, a folkloric performing art showcased at a festival every August in this northern Japan city.
In front of the floats, Toshikazu Hashimoto, 43, and Colleen Schmuckal, 39, an American studying the shamisen Japanese stringed instrument, tied the knot on Sept. 22 as some 100 guests, including relatives and friends as well as visiting tourists, looked on and wished them happiness. The bride had previously learned the Hanawa Bayashi-style shamisen technique and wanted to have their wedding at the facility.
Hanawa Bayashi is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage as one of the “Yama, Hoko, Yatai float festivals in Japan,” in which locals collaborate in distinct ways to pray to the gods.
The couple, who live in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, registered their marriage in 2020, but the wedding was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. On this day, they held a Shinto-style wedding ceremony together with their 2-year-old son.
As the traditional music of Hanawa Bayashi played in the venue, Schmuckal walked with her father down the aisle in front of the floats and lined up next to Hashimoto. The bride and groom then said their vows in front of a Shinto priest and exchanged rings.
At the plaza in front of the building, Schmuckal, dressed in her wedding kimono, played the music of Hanawa Bayashi with local youths on the shamisen. The couple looked deeply moved, and said that it was a memorable wedding.
(Japanese original by Hikoshi Tamura)
1st wedding held in front of elaborate floats of north Japan’s UNESCO-registered tradition
