The broccoli wedding bouquet toss-Japan’s quirky substitute for the garter belt
Western-style weddings are overwhelmingly popular in Japan, and especially among young couples, outnumber Japanese-style ceremonies by a wide margin. In many ways, Western ceremonies in Japan are similar to what you’d see in the U.S. The bride wears a dress, the groom a tuxedo, and the pair exchanges vows and seals the deal with a kiss. The reception, likewise, usually involves toasts, a fancy dinner, and a bouquet toss.
But despite Japan’s rather open obsession with women’s undergarments , the garter toss isn’t a wedding tradition here. But the absence of a male equivalent to the bouquet toss has been noticed by some who are soon to be married, and they’ve hit upon the offbeat solution of having the men in attendance try to catch a bunch of broccoli thrown by the groom.
The broccoli toss seems to be a recent development, and as such isn’t really an accepted part of a conservative, stately wedding reception. For brides, grooms, and guests willing to show their playful side, though, it’s becoming an increasingly popular, if still very unorthodox, inclusion.
▼ “I managed to catch the broccoli the groom tossed instead of a bouquet (people say this is a new trend?)!! My friends started joking, saying ‘It’s your turn to get married next,’ but I don’t think I’ll be able to do that for a while. Someday I want to have a ceremony as beautiful as the one I went to today.”
新郎からは、ブーケトスならぬブロッコリートス(最近の流行り？)を見事に獲得‼
—
次は俺の番か?!…などと、周りの友人からいじられましたが、当分の間は期待に応えられそうにないかな😅
いつか自分も今日のような素敵な式を挙げたいですね(^^) http://t.co/oCE3EHb1yF
菊さん. (@nano8000_ryo) May 23, 2015
Just to be clear, this isn’t a plastic or plush replica. For a proper broccoli toss, only the actual vegetable will do, and some grooms are thoughtful enough to include a pack of mayonnaise, one of Japan’s favorite veggie condiments.
先週の土日、会社の同期の結婚式に出席したのですけど新郎版ブーケトスですげー新鮮なやつ飛んできたよ。 http://t.co/AQaq1EDFzX
—
ろーんすとフリスキー (@roonss_735) June 03, 2015
※結婚式場です
—
※ブーケトスならぬブロッコリートスです
※本物です、茹でれば食べれます
※ぼくが取りました http://t.co/oDG16ZszgY
かがそる (@Kagasol) May 16, 2015
But…why broccoli? It turns out there’re actually a few schools of thought. One holds that the manner in which broccoli grows, with many stems branching out from the central stock, is a visual metaphor for a growing family, and so whoever catches the bunch will be blessed with many children. Others hold that the nutrient-rich vegetable symbolizes good health for whoever ends up with it.
▼ A group of male guests jostling for the broccoli
最近は新婦さんが花束ブーケトスなら新郎さんはブロッコリーをトスするらしくてみんなブロッコリー取り合ってた（笑）だから朝からブロッコリー茹でてたんか（笑） http://t.co/qCs7uQLhfE
—
Ｒ (@oxygenzzzzz) May 31, 2015
▼ A happy groom gives the broccoli a heave.
あれ、これ、、、、、、うちの、、、、、いとこの結婚式でもやってたぞ、、wwwwww
—
ブロッコリートス、、wwwwww http://t.co/M0TdRmFrT0
ふーき (@sekaowa_fuki) June 06, 2015
While broccoli seems to be the most popular choice, other foodstuffs will do, such as cauliflower, or even a wrapped bouquet of mixed vegetables.
お客さんに突然「カリフラワーいる！？」って聞かれてもらった物。
—
ブーケトスで投げたやつらしい。
しあわせになれるかなかなかなかなかな*:.｡.(///o///) .｡.:*♡ http://t.co/7cXioGDg2e
らむねちゃん⋆｡˚✩ (@_RMxRM_) April 18, 2015
Only time will tell if these celebratory vegetables remain the domain of those with unusual senses of style and humor, like the Legend of Zelda cake-cutting or Beatmania welcome board , or whether they become so engrained in Japanese wedding tradition that brides start strapping broccoli to their thighs before the ceremony.
ブロッコリートスってなんだよマジ http://t.co/rEP1mnQvWy
—
岡野瑛太 (@mask_KKLT) May 30, 2015
Source: Naver Matome , Ameba News
Top image: Twitter
Insert image: Twitter (edited by RocketNews24)
