Tomoharu Saito, who took part in Tokyo with his wife Miki days before they were set to file for divorce, said crushing the rings felt cathartic.(Agencies) |
Ceremonies to celebrate divorces have gained momentum in Japan after the massive March earthquake and tsunami, followed by an ongoing nuclear crisis, caused unhappy couples to reassess their lives. The ceremony to mark a couple's transition to being single again costs 55,000 yen ($690), includes a buffet meal and culminates with the ritual smashing of their wedding rings with a gavel. Tomoharu Saito, who took part in Tokyo with his wife Miki days before they were set to file for divorce, said crushing the rings felt cathartic. "I did not think the ring could be crushed that easily, but it did," he said. "I was shocked but at the same time, I feel it helped me make a clean break." The ceremony also includes a "divorce dress," and Miki Saito chose a daisy-yellow summer dress. In Japan, daisies are believed to symbolize an "amicable or platonic relationship." Designer Akiue Go said he created the dress with emphasis on the back for a specific reason. "I designed this dress so the woman's back looks the most beautiful when she turns around and walks away," he said. Hiroki Terai, a 31-year-old former salesman, spotted a gap in the market and pioneered the divorce ceremony two years ago. Since then, he's celebrated more than 80 breakups. Requests for the ceremony have tripled since the March 11 9.0 magnitude quake set off a massive tsunami. "The March 11 disaster made many couples rethink their priorities. Some found that work was a higher priority to them than family, and this helped people gain the confidence to decide on a divorce," Terai said. "Those who want an amicable divorce are doing these ceremonies." Miki Saito said the earthquake made her realize she wanted to be closer to her parents, who live in northeastern Japan in one of the areas badly affected by the quake. "After the quake, my desire to go back and live with my parents grew stronger," she said. Guest Hiroko Tada was present for both the beginning and the end of the Saitos' marriage. "I'd say congratulations to the amicable divorce," she said. "I could have never imagined this day would come because I was at their wedding, but since they did break up, this is one of the best ways to do it." (Read by Renee Haines. Renee Haines is a journalist at the China Daily Website.) (Agencies)
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日本自今年三月發(fā)生強(qiáng)震和海嘯以來,舉辦離婚典禮的人數(shù)激增。這些災(zāi)難以及隨后發(fā)生的持續(xù)性核危機(jī)促使生活原本不幸福的夫婦開始重新審視生活。 離婚典禮花費(fèi)為5.5萬日元(690美元),用來慶祝雙方重返單身,包括一頓自助餐。夫婦一起手握木槌、砸毀婚戒時(shí),離婚典禮達(dá)到高潮。 在離婚登記幾天前,齋藤友治和妻子美樹在東京舉辦了離婚典禮。他說,砸毀婚戒使情感得到了宣泄。 他說:“我原本覺得婚戒不容易被打碎,但其實(shí)不然。我很吃驚,但同時(shí)也相信這能夠讓我重獲新生。” 該典禮還要求身著“離婚禮服”,齋藤美樹挑選了一件菊花黃色的夏裙。雛菊在日本象征著“友好的情誼,或者柏拉圖式的理想關(guān)系”。 禮服設(shè)計(jì)者伍秋植稱,他將禮服背面作為設(shè)計(jì)重點(diǎn),有特別的用意。他說:“我如此設(shè)計(jì)這條裙子,為的是讓女人轉(zhuǎn)身離去時(shí)留下最美的背影。” 31歲的寺井廣樹曾經(jīng)是一名推銷員,他在兩年前發(fā)現(xiàn)了這一市場空白,開創(chuàng)了離婚典禮。至今,他已為80多對夫婦舉辦了離婚典禮。 自3月11日日本發(fā)生9級(jí)大地震及海嘯以來,離婚典禮的申辦量達(dá)到原來的三倍。 寺井廣樹說:“3?11大地震讓許多夫婦重新審視生活的重心。一些人認(rèn)為工作比家庭更重要,這堅(jiān)定了他們離婚的信心。 “想要和平分手的人都舉行這種離婚典禮。” 齋藤美治說,地震的發(fā)生讓她想要離父母近一些。她的父母住在日本東北部,那里是受災(zāi)最嚴(yán)重的地區(qū)之一。 她說,“地震發(fā)生后,我想要回去跟父母同住的愿望更強(qiáng)烈了”。 嘉賓寺廣樹見證了齋藤友治的結(jié)婚典禮和離婚典禮。她說,“我想祝賀他們能夠和平分手。我從來沒有想過會(huì)有這一天,因?yàn)楫?dāng)初我參加了他們的婚禮。但既然他們決定離婚,能舉行離婚典禮最好不過了”。 相關(guān)閱讀 (中國日報(bào)網(wǎng)英語點(diǎn)津 實(shí)習(xí)生史莉萍 編輯:Julie) |
Vocabulary: cathartic: 情感宣泄 clean break: 徹底決裂,一刀兩斷 platonic: purely spiritual; free from sensual desire, especially in a relationship between two persons of the opposite sex(柏拉圖主義的,理想的) amicable: 友善的,和平的 |