SAPPORO -- On June 6, company employee Ryo Kosuda, 28, and his wife, Miki, 27, stood in front of a priest at the Rose Garden Christ Church atop a hill in Chuo Ward, Sapporo. The light was shining through the church's stained glass windows.
To avoid crowding, there were no guests. No kiss to seal the vows, no exchange of rings. The priest read from the Bible and said to the couple, "Please face forward without losing hope, support each other and nurture your love."
The choir in the second tier in the back sang hymns, and the ceremony was over in about 15 minutes. The couple smiled at each other and said it was an unforgettable day that they were very grateful for.
This was not, however, the Kosudas' wedding.
Their wedding ceremony was originally scheduled to take place on this day, but it's been postponed for a year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Feeling empty, Miki came across a website with information about a so-called blessing ceremony. The free ceremonies are being organized by local bridal company Sowa Project Co. for couples who have canceled or postponed their wedding due to the virus.
"I wanted these couples to face forward, even a little bit, because they must be feeling depressed by the painful decisions they've had to make," said Ayako Suzuki, 45, head of the company's planning and public relations department.
About 10 couples have applied so far, and three have pledged their eternal love in church.
The Kosudas, who met at work, registered their marriage last July. They booked a wedding hall at a hotel in the city and sent invitations to about 100 people.
However, they decided to postpone the wedding in April and have also put off their honeymoon to Hawaii.
After the blessing ceremony, they came out of the church and stopped to look down at the streets of Sapporo. They then took a deep breath.
"It was just the two of us. I renewed my belief that it's very important for us to support each other and live our lives with love," Miki said. Ryo watched her with a card that the priest had given him in his hand. It was inscribed with the message: "Love never ends."
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