Meiji Shrine | X-Pro2 From The Travel Photographer

t’s a real shame that the traditional Shinto wedding ceremonies in Japan have dropped in popularity in the recent years, and that these only represent 20% of all weddings in the country, dropping from 70%. The drop may have to do with Japan’s modernization, but it may also have to do with the high costs to set up Shinto weddings.

These photographs of a Shinto wedding ceremony were made at the famous Meiji Shrine, located in Shibuya, Tokyo; the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. There were a number of photographers surrounding the couple, including the wedding photographer who seemed resigned that ‘poachers’ were on his turf.

I don’t remember what I did to earn the couple’s unbridled laughter, but it might have been my atrocious Japanese pronunciation in wishing them well…or my elbowing my way through the cluster of people with mobile phones trying to take pictures.

Shinto wedding rituals are comparatively recent, being based on the ceremony used for the wedding of Crown Prince Yoshihito and Princess Sado in 1900. The ceremonies predating this royal wedding varied a great deal.

The weddings are usually small-scale affair involving the couple, their families and close friends. The bride normally wears a white kimono with a white scarf to indicate purity.

The ceremonies begin with a ritual purification; followed by prayers that are offered for the couple to have good luck, happiness and the protection of the kami (spirits or phenomena that are worshipped in the Shinto religion). Then the couple drinks sake – taking three sips each from three cups poured by the miko (shrine maiden) – and the groom reads words of commitment.

Once the wedding is about to commence, the couple walks into the shrine, a process traditionally called sanshin. The processions into the Meiji shrine involve the couple to be wedded walking in line with the Shinto priests.

About The Travel Photographer

Based in New York City, I am a freelance photographer specializing in documenting endangered cultures and traditional life ways of Asia, Latin America and Africa. My images, articles and photo features were published in various magazines, and my travel photographs were featured by some of the largest adventure travel companies in the United States and Great Britain, as well as in multinational corporations’ art collections. My photographs have been acquired by an eclectic range of clients; from the Standard Chartered’ Bank’s permanent art collection to Spike TV.

I also organize and lead photo expeditions and workshops for photographers who share my enthusiasm for unusual cultures, uncommon locations and lesser known festivals. I’m a faculty member at the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop, and give workshops at the Travel Photographer Society (Kuala Lumpur).