Why Is June A Popular Wedding Season in Japan?

You've heard the term "June Bride" perhaps not only in Japan. But why is it so prevalent here? From ancient beliefs to practical matters, here are several theories hinting at the answer.

There are three common types of weddings in Japan: a “paper” wedding, where you just sign the relevant documents and you’re good to go; a traditional Japanese wedding at a Shinto shrine, and the recently more common Western-style ceremonies held at pseudo-wedding chapels with “foreign priests” who may or may not be English teachers moonlighting for the occasion. No matter the style, many couples still choose a June wedding, despite it falling in the rainy season, making it a curious yet enduring tradition in Japan.

June Bride

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Popularized in Japan after the 1948 movie of the same name, “June bride” is a term that you’ll often see in Japanese manga, anime, TV dramas, Instagram, and, of course, all wedding-related businesses. As soon as June kicks in, you’ll suddenly start noticing a boost in wedding promotions, special photo plans and other related festivities, along with wedding after wedding invitations if you live here. I can personally name about six Japanese friends offhand who have gotten married in June.

Though there isn’t a single, concrete reason for this tradition’s longevity, different generations of women ascribe some interpretations to the persistence of the June bride image in Japan. Here are some of them.

Ancient Beliefs

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June, the month of Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, was thought to confer good luck to couples. In other words, June is automatically a lucky month to get married. Like in many other parts of the world, this mythology is still quoted as being part of the reason for the success of the June bride’s lingering image in Japan today.

However, as far as traditional Japan is concerned, June has a special significance for new families. Under the old Japanese calendar, June was called minazuki, the month of water. It was traditionally the time when rice fields were flooded with water. This symbol of fertility carried over into relationships. It was thought that June was the best month to get married and, therefore, pregnant. These two were thought to go simultaneously in the past. If coming from an agricultural family, this timing was ideal. The pregnancy wouldn’t interfere with the woman’s ability to work during the harvest season.

An elderly female friend of mine further said that in her generation, getting married in June had another benefit. Having a honeymoon baby meant avoiding the stress of going into labor during the sweltering summer months. Talk about planned parenthood!

The Perfect Weather

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June is the tail end of spring and the start of summer in Japan. This means the weather is usually comfortably warm during the day. It’s also pleasantly cool in the evenings. If you’re planning to wear a heavy white gown or traditional kimono, June is ideal. It’s the best time to dress up before the dreaded Japanese summer begins.

If you’re having a modern destination wedding, June is also a popular choice for that too. Many young Japanese couples have chosen to marry abroad in recent years. This is the time to visit places like Guam, Saipan and Hawaii. These are the three most popular wedding destinations for Japanese newlyweds. Many wedding companies offer special package deals for June. That’s an unbeatable incentive for many young couples.

Despite being the rainy season, June is also the month of blooming flowers in Japan. On a lucky sunny day, couples can take wedding photos outdoors, using anything from hydrangea to iris as a backdrop.

Practical Reasons

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When you’re paying a couple of million yen for your wedding and have a long list of things to do, being practical about your time plays a big role when choosing the wedding date. So, for couples who are both working professionals, June is a natural choice, considering the fact that their work schedules tend to be freer after the rush of April and May. As April and May are months when there are celebrations for newcomers to companies, it’s much harder to book a reasonably-sized restaurant for a party than it is in June, when there aren’t any national holidays or work-related events to worry about.

The Golden Week in May also gives couples enough time to prepare before the wedding. With nearly no one traveling in June, one doesn’t risk having a number of dear people cancel their presence on the big day.

So, summing up the many practical sides of the wedding factor, June is by all means a great time to tie the knot, officially. The weather’s fine, the guests will be there, there’s less fuss at work and Juno will be watching over! If you’re looking to get married in Japan, then you may also consider visiting one of the many bridal fairs held at this time at hotels, chapels and ceremony halls in major cities. Even just seeing what they have to offer can make your head spin!

Did you have a June wedding in Japan? What kind of wedding did you choose? Let us know in the comments!

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