Massachusetts Institute of Technology © 2011 Visualizing Cultures
My mother tells about her engagement:
“We met in the spring and dated for about 7 months. The formal engagement is called yuino. The groom-to-be and his parents arrive at the bride’s house with money for the wedding arrangements. Nobody is dressed casually, but not very formal. Yuino is still practiced, even today.
“I met Ichiro in April, 1948 at Mr. Inoue’s house, my father’s friend who had spoken with Ichiro’s father’s friend to arrange the meeting.
“It felt strange. I was working at Yokohama customs and I had had boyfriends, but Ichiro was different. He was quiet. He talked
about his hopes. He was a student at Tokyo University, the best in Japan. Mrs. Inoue
told me he might go to the US to study. I thought – wow! This seemed really exciting!”
Site 06: Fruit Shop
My Mother’s Arranged Marriage!
site 06 photo 1.1
My mother’s marriage was arranged. Even today 50% of marriages are arranged. I think she was excited about marrying a Ph.D. (very rare then).
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The inner sleeve of their wedding portrait
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Wedding portrait, my parents, Mitsuko and Ichiro Miyagawa
