Growing penchant in Japan for western weddings

There is a growing penchant in Japan for Hollywood-style Christian weddings, as opposed to more traditional Shinto ceremonies, the Telegraph reports.

Almost three-quarters of weddings performed in the Land of the Rising Sun last year conformed to the familiar western format, despite the fact that less than one per cent of the population is Christian.

Japanese couples are tying the knot with vows read out by fake reverends and with stand-in best men, as the ceremonies are not considered legally binding.

Popularised by idealised scenes from American films, Christian nuptials are becoming increasingly widespread as they are considered "fun" and "romantic", according to Kevin Charles, a Tokyo-based translator who stands in as a best man at weekend weddings.

"People embrace these weddings because they are very romantic and match images from Hollywood movies," he told the Telegraph.

Explaining his unusual but well-paid role, he added: "I am basically a surrogate best man and am at the groom's side during the ceremony to make sure it all goes smoothly."

Official figures show that just over 70 per cent of the 750,000 weddings performed last year in Japan were Christian in style, replete with wedlock cliches such as a petal-strewn aisle and a singing choir.

Traditional Shinto weddings are more staid affairs, involving only family members, in which the union is sealed with a sip from a cup of sake.

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