Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-11-10
Picture Brides Find True Friend Here
Y w. C. A. Worker Is Their Counsellor

On the boat Nyoshi meets many
other girls who, like her, are making
their first long journey. Some of them
are her own friends, whom she is glad
to see, and others are strangers, OF
whom she is very shy. However, it is
easy for even Japanese picture brides
to become acquainted and shipboard
and soon little Nyoshi feels less
strange, and begins TO enjoy the jour
ney over the long tumbling green
waves.
At the immigration station she is
met by her prospective husband, &C.
companied by the baishakunin. Here,
unless she should very strongly object
to the appearance of the man she is to
marry, the legal wedding takes place.
The territory sees to that. If there
should be objections made by either
Nyosni or the man, Mrs Kishimoto is
there to see that no harm befalls the
little maiden, and the immigration
authorities also keep a watchful eye
on her until she is safely installed in
he- husbands care, or is sent back to
her home. Few, if any, are returned,
unless there is some physical defect,
which is rarely the case.
As soon as she can leave the immi-
grafton station, Nyoshi, wearing white,
to signify that she is dead to her old
life and to her family, accompanies
the man who has been chosen for her
to his home, and with them goes the
baishakunin, who has previously seen
that everything is made ready to re-
ceive the bridal pair.
If she is married according to Japa-
nese custom, Immediately upon her
arrival in the house of her future lord
and master, Nyoshi changes her white
dress Of mourning for another kimono,
always the gift Of her husband. Then
follows the san-san ku-do, the cere-
monial drinking of sake, three three
nine times" which insures health,
prosperity and happiness for the new
ly welded pair. Three cups are used,
and three times each. first the bride
and then the groom, drinks from each
of the three cups. When it is finished
Nyoshi again retires, to re-appear al
most Immediately, clad in lovely XII
mono of her own choosing. III Z.
All this time Nyoshi has not spoken,
nor does she speak until the wedding
feast is over-sometimes it lasts three
days-when the bridal pair is led into
the bridal chamber by the baishakunin
and again the san-san ku-do is drunk
This time. significant of the fact that
he is master, the husband drinks first
If the husband wears japanese COS
tune he, too, changes several times
during the ceremonial feast, but if he
wears Occidental evening clothes, as
many japanese men in Honolulu do
now, he does not change his dress
during the feast. ~. :..
Never from the time Nyoshi touches
the wharf until the ceremonial we'd
ding feast is over does the baisha-
kunin leave the pair. In fact he acts
as sort of godfather to them all their
married life, and takes a fatherIy in
terest in the five little Japanese babies
that are almost sure to come sooner
Or later to bless the home.
And all this time, too, Mrs. Kishi-
motto has kept her friendly, mother
eyes upon the pair. She knows that
little Nyoshi, when the excitement of
the wedding is over, win be very lone
ly for while, and she goes to her, as
a friend, almost as sister. and in