Japanese Wedding on the Midway

Buffalo Evening News, June 12, 1901

There will be a wedding a la Japan tomorrow night on the Midway, and in fact, it will be the real thing in the way of a Japanese marriage. In speaking of the coming ceremony Mr. Fushima, who is a Cornell graduate, said: "This marriage might be termed American in its inception and Japanese in its execution. It is based on affection, as it is here, instead of convenience as in Japan itself. There the woman is of small account. The wife waits on the husband at meals, in the absence of servants, and has to salute him first on all occasions. She does everything after him except to get up in the morning, which she is first to do.

"She address his as Danna Sanns, 'My Lord.' She has no mind above housekeeping and is to have no other thought other than of the wishes and comfort of her master. If he wishes to get rid of her all he has to do is to give her a letter of dismissal. It is very simple."

The full Japanese ceremony will be carried out tomorrow night. Substitutes for the parents will be provided as they are not in the country. The saki cup will be passed, and the wedding wine brought in by three children, to be passed first to the bride and then to the groom, out of deference to his wishes in this instance. The high priest of Buddha will perform the ceremony. The Ladies' Orchestra will sound the wedding march. Omoto and Shiori will be united with all the pomp and splendor to which they are accustomed.

There will be a wedding journey of two weeks and the newly wedded pair will become citizens of America.

The wedding procession will move promptly at 8:30 in the evening and the ceremony will take place in the open garden free to all patrons of Fair Japan.