Wedding

As you might expect Japanese weddings are very organzied. 

Akiko's older sisters, Yoko and Tomoko, graciously agreed to handle the reception for us. 

Guests are welcomed, sign in the guestbook and hand over their 

special envelope with their cash gift. That's right, at Japanese 

weddings people bring cash gifts not blenders and toasters.   

 After everyone signs in and has a welcome drink and snacks in the reception area Akiko and I come out and greet everyone and all the guests proceed to take picture and more pictures and more pictures. My 10 minute glimpse at what some celebrities must face on an almost daily basis. 

The three Ota sisters, Yoko, Akiko and Tomoko

 With my new in-laws. Happily for me they're wonderful people.

 These were the younger guests on my side. 

Yuuki (Hamamatsu) , Mike (Vancouver, Canada), 

Makoto (Hamamatsu) and Bart (Ventura, Ca) 

 After picture time everyone adjourns to the garden patio outside for a short ceremony.

Akiko and I reading our vows. We're supposed to read 

them in unison but I kept screwing up and we couldn't stop laughing. 

 Making a short speech thanking everyone for coming. Eat, drink and be merry.

 Just settling down at our table and Akiko's dad is already right over to fill our beers and make sure he talks to everyone. Anyone familiar with Japanese culture will know that you don't often pour your own drinks at events like these. People go around, greet each other and fill each others drink. It's good manners and a nice excuse to strike up a conversation with someone you may not otherwise talk to.     

 Some of Akiko's friends. Some may recognize 

Masumi looking nice in her kimono on the right.

 We made up a bingo game to encourage/force people to mingle and talk with each other. They had to ask each other questions about Akiko and I and if they answered "yes" to the questions the person would sign their name. The first five people to get bingo won prizes.

Akiko's sisters Yoko, Tomoko and my brother-in-law Ka-chan   

 Making another speech at the end of the reception thanking everyone for coming. For better or worse, speeches are another important part of any event in Japan.

 Receiving line with Akiko and her parents. Kind of a cool way to 

thank everyone for coming and send them off with a small gift. 

 Most of the Ota family. That's Yoko's daughter Nanami in the front

Completely unrelated to the wedding but I wanted to share 

this photo with Akiko's  95 year old grandfather. 

He was a soldier in China for four years during World War 2, was shot twice and is still alive and kicking (although in declining health). I think it's amazing that he survived the war after having been shot twice. A very small percentage of Japanese soldiers ever came back after having gone overseas.  I think he must have an angel on his shoulder to make it back and to have lived this long. 

The reason I look like I'm auditioning to be a extra in Men in Black is because that's the uniform you wear to a memorial service in Japan. A black suit, absolutely no exceptions under any circumstances. It was the day after the wedding and the second year anniversary of the death of Akiko's maternal grandmother, called a "Sankaiki" in Japanese.