{"id":9518,"date":"2011-07-05T02:07:40","date_gmt":"2011-07-05T02:07:40","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2011-07-05T02:07:40","modified_gmt":"2011-07-05T02:07:40","slug":"Divorce-in-Japan-increases-after-disaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asiancemagazine.com\/?p=9518","title":{"rendered":"Divorce in Japan increases after disaster"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ceremonies to celebrate divorces have gained momentum in Japan after the massive March earthquake and tsunami<\/strong>, followed by an ongoing nuclear crisis, caused unhappy couples to reassess their lives.<\/p>\n

The ceremony to mark a couple’s transition to being single again costs 55,000 yen ($690<\/strong>), includes a buffet meal and culminates with the ritual smashing of their wedding rings with a gavel.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“I did not think the ring could be crushed that easily, but it did,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I was shocked but at the same time, I feel it helped me make a clean break.”<\/p>\n

The ceremony also includes a “divorce dress,” and Miki Saito chose a daisy-yellow summer dress.<\/strong> In Japan, daisies are believed to symbolize an “amicable or platonic relationship.”
\n<\/strong>
\nDesigner Akiue Go said he created the dress with emphasis on the back for a specific reason.<\/p>\n

“I designed this dress so the woman’s back looks the most beautiful when she turns around and walks away,” he said.<\/p>\n

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.
\n<\/strong>
\nRequests for the ceremony have tripled since the March 11 9.0 magnitude quake set off a massive tsunami.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“Those who want an amicable divorce are doing these ceremonies.”<\/p>\n

Miki Saito said the earthquake made her realize she wanted to be closer to her parents<\/strong>, who live in northeastern Japan in one of the areas badly affected by the quake.<\/p>\n

“After the quake, my desire to go back and live with my parents grew stronger,” she said.<\/p>\n

Guest Hiroko Tada<\/strong> was present for both the beginning and the end of the Saitos’ marriage.<\/p>\n

“I’d say congratulations to the amicable divorce,” she said.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

The same thing happened in the United States after September 11, 2001. Many couples broke up!
\n<\/strong>
\nSource<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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