The Story so far

Well during Golden Week my parents came to Aomori. They had a great time, I think they were amazed by how friendly everyone is even though my parents speak very little Japanese.
Japan is a very welcoming place and I think Japanese are very kind, considerate and caring to new people.

The main reason they came to Japan was to see my wedding which was held on 1st May 2010.
We had a traditional chapel wedding with the white dress but after we changed into kimonos and hakama for me. This gave it a more japanese style. I think everyone was surprised to see a foreigner in such traditional Japanese clothes.

We had speeches from Yuuris boss which is usual in Japanese weddings. My dad made a toast and my best man Kenju made a second toast. I had everything translated by an interpreter, a good friend of mine Yuko. My best men gave his speech both in Japanese and English!

Later Yuuri changed back into her white dress for the cake cutting. We also had entertainment in the form of a magician who turned water into wine! After him we had a shamisen performed on a metal snow shovel by 5 girls. Finally we had a traditional Japanese dancer using fans and umbrella and wearing a kimono.

Yuuri left to change into her blue dress which was made for her by her gran. This was made for our first dance. We had been practicing for about 4 weeks. It was a kind of cuban rumba to the music of Van Morrison's Crazy Love.

After Yuuri sat down I began my speech in English and as much Japanese as I could. In Japan families sit at the back of weddings while bosses and co-workers sit at the front. I couldn't let my parents come all that way and sit at the back, not with my mums eyesight! Yuuris parents were happy to sit at the back with the rest of the family.

After my speech i started to sing acapella to Yuuri san. I sang "say a little prayer" from the movie "My best friends wedding". I got the audience to join in with the chorus too. It was a nice surprise for Yuuri.

Yuuri went away again to change and I served the guests drinks and thanked them for coming. When Yuuri came back she was wearing her beautiful red dress and carrying her bad her mum made.

We came in together and I held a sword with a flame on the end. The room was dark with a spotlight on us. We went round to each table and lit the candles using the sword. Finally we lit the one on our table and it glowed red.

After the wedding we went to a French restaurant and had drinks and a buffet. Yuuri changed once again into the black dress I bought her for Xmas.
Finally we ended the night at a club with some friends wearing eye masks.