Spring and autumn are the most popular seasons for a Japanese wedding. On the more favorable days in their almanac, there could be as many as forty couples united in marriage at a Shinto shrine. If the young woman is having the traditional Japanese wedding, she would wear the most magnificent kimono called “uchikake”. Most will rent one, because it could cost more than $10,000 U.S. to purchase one of these kimonos. The uchikake is very long and if not held up, it would touch the ground. It is not an equivalent to our Western bridal trains that trail the ground only at the back. The uchikake is long all the way around and the bride would require assistance from one of her bridal attendants, in order to be able to walk in this kimono.
The Shinto wedding would be performed before a Shinto sanctuary. The “shiro-muku” is the traditional white wedding kimono, with shiro meaning “white” and muku meaning “pure”. This signifies the bride’s pure intentions to conform to the practices and customs of the husband’s family. The wedding kimono is comprised of two kimonos. The white kimono would be worn for the wedding ceremony and the elaborate, richly embellished, silk brocade kimono, called uchikake, would be worn overtop the white kimono for the wedding reception.
The colorful uchikake kimonos originated in the Edo era (1600-1868) and were only permitted to be worn by court nobles, at first, as a symbol of their status. Uchikake kimonos are most often red based brocade, which are woven onto long, wide strips of thick silk material. The brocaded silver, gold and other beautifully colored threads are used to shape fantastic, traditional, embroidered designs and images. The popular designs for the uchikake are turtles, cranes, Chinese phoenixes, treasure boxes, plum blossoms pine trees and bamboo. Most of these are Japanese symbols for prosperity, happiness, longevity and fertility. While red is the most often used color for the uchikake, many different colors, from majestic imperial purple to gorgeous sea green, are available. The bridal kimono is sometimes handed down as an heirloom in the family or is made into futon bedding later in life.
For the wedding, the bride’s hair would be styled in a traditional hairstyle called “bunkin-takashimada” , in which she would wear magnificent gold combs and “kanzashi” (accessories). She would then wear a white wedding hood, called “tsuno kakushi” in order to hide the two golden horns or “tsuno”, which are symbolic of the wife’s obedience to her husband. There are bridal accessories that are worn for tradition and good luck. In her obi belt, the bride will wear a fan for the traditional belief that the gradual widening of the open fan indicates happiness and therefore will bring a happy future. The bride carries a small encased sword called “kaiken” and a small purse-like sack called “hakoseko”.
The breathtaking, colorful uchikake wedding kimono, being offered today, is vivid red that has a gradual fading, at an angle, to orange and then to green. It features eye-catching appliqué designs in a floral motif and embroidered cranes in flight. The Japanese crane symbolizes longevity, luck, fidelity and a happy marriage. There are dazzling flecks of gold and platinum highlighting the floral pattern. Since the original paper is inside the collar, it is a very strong possibility that this kimono was never used. The original bunting covering hasn’t been removed and the uchikake has the original shipping ties on the inside. This beautiful wedding kimono is in perfect condition. The sizing is as follows: sleeve length is 42 inches, the body width is 24 inches and the overall kimono length is 72 inches. This elaborately embellished, stunning uchikake kimono is an extraordinary work of craftsmanship, to be elegantly worn and enjoyed or to be exhibited as a unique, incomparable, marvelous piece of Japanese artistry!
You can bid on this exquisite Japanese kimono here
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