Japanese Wedding...

神社を訪れた時、ふとラッキーだなと思う瞬間は祈祷の場面に出くわすことだ。厳かな式が進み、祈りの言葉を聞くことができる。さらに、それが神前式の場だったらなおさらうれしく思うことはない。

しばらく前、朝からドタバタしたある日。春のお彼岸の最終日、一心寺の写経堂で般若心経を書き上げた後、阿倍野神社へ向かった。さらに、帰り道に住吉さん（住吉大社）によってご挨拶をと結構な距離を自転車で向かう。境内に到着すると結構にぎわっているなと思いながら、一つ一つの拝殿で挨拶を済ませた。第一本宮に向うと神前式が執り行われていた。

”おぉ、ラッキー！”

When I visit shrines, I feel so lucky to encounter a Shinto ritual ceremony by chance because I can observe the solemn ceremony closely and listen to the Shinto Prayers. If the Shinto Wedding ceremony, it is going to be much much luckier.

A while ago, it was a busy day in the morning. On the last day of "Higan", I fistly went to Isshinji-Temple to write "Heart Sutura" in chirography for my ancestor's spirits, and then to Abeno Shrine. On the way back home, I stopped by at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine. I rode my bike for a quite distance, I guess. There were relatively many visitors in the shrine, and I made a prayer at 4 main alters one by one. When I got to the 1st main alter, a wedding ceremony was taking place. 

"Wow! How lucky I am!" 

第一本宮での挨拶はとりあえず後に回し、厳かな式の様子を眺めつつ撮り始める。式はもう終わりに近づいていた。

”もうちょっと、早く呼んでくれたらよかったのに・・・。”

と愚痴りながら、花嫁さんの美しい後ろ姿と文欽金高島田を何とか捉えようとレンズを覗く。

I decided to greet at the 1st alter later, and started to take photos of the solemn ceremony. However it was almost about to finish.

"Why didn't you let me come here earlier?"

I silently complained to the God. And then I looked at a beautiful bride with her hair trimmed in ”Bunkintakashimada", Japanese traditional wedding ceremony style through my camera's finder.

実に美しい後ろ姿だなと感心した。神前に会釈する時のその凛とした美しい線。その所作の慎ましやかさ。大和撫子ってこういう姿だとつくづく思う。ちょうど一年前に姪っ子が結婚式を挙げたが、神前式だったら良かったのにと、叔父の想いが湧いた・・・。

国宝の拝殿で行われるこの神前式。なんて贅沢な瞬間に立ち会えたのだろうと思った。

式を終え、親族と拝殿から出てきた新郎新婦。

”わぁ、美男美女の新郎新婦だ！”

と思わず見惚れてしまう。神社専属のカメラマンさんの邪魔にならないように、素敵な瞬間を待った。

 I was so impressed with the beauty of the bride's back in posture. When she slightly vowed in front of the alter in very very elegant manner, her posture line was so beautiful. And also very moderate. This is exactly what "Yamatonadeshiko" is, which is often referred as a term to define an ideal Japanese lady with feminine beauty, modesty, and pure. A year ago, I attended my niece's wedding ceremony, but it was conducted in western style. I wondered if it had been in Japanese style at a shrine. 

The wedding ceremony conducted at an altered designated as a national treasure of Japan. I was lucky enough to see this great wedding ceremony there, I recalled later. 

When the ceremony finished, the bride and groom came out of the alter with their family members. 

"Wow, they are so handsome and beautiful!"

I was fascinated by their looking. While trying not to bother their wedding camera crews, I waited for a chance to capture a beautiful moment. 

丁度、新郎新婦が正面を向いてくださったのでチャンスを逃さず撮影をした。優しい微笑みで新婦を見つめる新郎さん。そして、あどけない笑顔で白無垢の白色に生える素晴らしい笑顔の新婦さん。完璧なご両人だったかと思う。

後日、写真を現像し、住吉大社吉祥殿を通じお送りした。気に入ってくれると良いのだが・・・。

本当は彼らの美しい笑顔の写真を載せたいのだけど、祝い事とはいえこのブログでは控えようと思う。

とにかく、おめでとうございま!

By chance, they both looked at the direction of where I was, and I didn't miss the moment to take the photos. The gloom was gently looking at the bride, and the bride was, on the other hand,  smiling moderately in a white elegant Japanese wedding dress which looked so adorable. They looked a perfect Japanese couple. 

I later developed the photos, and send it to them through Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine. I do hope that they liked it...

I want to post their beautiful smile photos, but I refrain from posting it in this blog.

Anyway, congratulation!