The Road to the Promised Land: Chapter 59

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==The Wedding==
Sunday July 14
The Aizawas' house, Kamakura, Japan
7:50 AM
Earlier in the morning, Nana had already left her and Kakeru's hotel room to get through the process of preparing her hair and her makeup for a Japanese traditional wedding. Meanwhile, Kakeru chose to go back alone to his parents' house to have one last "brotherly talk" in front of the altar in Suguru's room. For Kakeru, it was a way to close the current chapter of his life before he would later open a new chapter as a married man.
"Hey, Nii-chan. The last time I was here was during last summer, just before I took off to prepare for the last season. A lot of things happened since then. It was a really rocky road, but I came out as a winner – Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. I feel like I'm still dreaming even though I saw you in Paris after we won the biggest club trophy of all." Kakeru said.
Kakeru took a glance at the framed picture of his brother on the altar.
"Of course, I'm not here to talk about my achievements. I wanted to tell you that I'm about to fulfill another dream that I had for a really long time: Nana and I will get married at the shrine in a few hours now. And before we do, I wanted to say on her behalf... thank you for watching over us and our loved ones when we were in need. It's all thanks to you if all of us can be here for this special day. Even though you're not physically here, both of us know that you will be present in spirit. That is good enough for us."
Then Mito's voice was heard down the stairs, on the ground floor.
"Kake-nii, don't stay for too long. You have to move and get prepared." Mito said.
"Yeah, I'm almost done here." Kakeru replied.
Then Kakeru looked at his brother's picture for one last time.
"Well, it's almost time for me to go. But before I do, I'm leaving my Premier League and Champions League medals here. After all, you did so much for me in my journey and thus I share those achievements with you. Wish me all the luck in the world for the future." Kakeru finished.
Kakeru left his Premier League and Champions League winner's medals on the drawer next to the altar. Suguru's lucky soccer ball and boots were still on the drawer as they had been for years before the medals, now both encased in transparent boxes, became part of the collection. At the same time, the shirt that Kakeru wore in the UEFA Champions League final was also hung next to Suguru and Kakeru's shirts from when they represented Japan on the international stage in their respective first times with a few years apart.
Then Kakeru left the room and went down the stairs. His parents and his younger sister were already waiting.
"There you are, Kake-nii." Mito said.
"Your transport has just arrived." Mamoru added.
"Is everything okay, Kakeru?" Eiko asked.
"Yeah. I just felt the need to speak to Nii-chan and to thank him for everything he has done for all of us. If it wasn't for him, this very special day may not be happening." Kakeru replied.
"I'm sure he knows. He will happy for both you and Nana." Eiko said.
"Suguru always knew that you and Nana are made for each other." Mamoru added.
"Yeah! Well, I'll get this show on the road." Kakeru replied.
"Looking forward to the wedding of the year in Japan!" Mito exclaimed.
"No need for more pressure than there is already, Mito-chan." Kakeru frowned.
"It can't be worse than a Champions League final though."
"Point taken, Mito-chan." Kakeru finished.
Shinto weddings, or Shinzen kekkon ("Wedding before the gods"), are still considered a modern invention despite the traditional character behind it. The first mention of a wedding in a Shinto manual dated to 1872 as weddings were not reported until the 1880s. Nevertheless, Shinto weddings became popular when then-Crown Prince Yoshihito (later known as Emperor Taishō) married Sadako Kujō in a Shinto ceremony at the Imperial Palace in 1900. The wedding reflected a change in Meiji-era thinking about marriage, which had recently legally allowed for marriage to be a balanced partnership between husband and wife. People attending the main wedding ceremony are the groom, the bride, and their respective families.
Western-style chapel ceremonies have become more popular than Shinto weddings in a more contemporary context, with the former now counting for about 50% of weddings compared to 30% and 20% for secular ceremonies and Shinto ceremonies respectively. Nevertheless, it's now common for a couple to go through a number of costume changes in a formal wedding depending on each section of the ceremony and regardless of the style of wedding.
Kakeru and Nana have been legally married since they registered their marriage to the municipal office a few days earlier and in accordance to Japanese law. Nevertheless, the couple chose to go with a Shinto wedding to celebrate the event of a lifetime. The lengthy process of preparing the groom and the bride took place in separate rooms at a chosen Kamakura wedding salon, which acted as an intermediary step prior to the ceremony at the historical Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine.
10:30 AM
In the Aizawa family's room, Kakeru was already fully dressed as he waited for the moment to go forward. Meanwhile, Kakeru's nuclear family were receiving other members of Mamoru and Eiko's respective families, especially Kakeru's grandparents. Men were wearing morning suits while women were wearing formal kimonos.
"Kakeru, stay still for a second." Eiko said before she adjusted Kakeru's outer kimono jacket.
"It's the third time you're adjusting it, Mom." Kakeru replied.
"I just want everything to be perfect."
"Don't worry. Our son is more than perfect." Mamoru said. "Not too uncomfortable, son?"
"It's all good for me, but I really wonder how Nana is feeling right now with the preparations." Kakeru replied.
"That's right. She has been in the other room since early this morning; it's a long time between then and the ceremony at noon." Mito remarked. 
Kakeru got to the wedding salon at 8:30 AM to get dressed in a black formal kimono called a montsuki, a kimono jacket called a haori with his family crest emblazoned on it, a couple of white inner layers, and kimono pants called hakama. The groom's dark-toned ensemble is made to contrast with the bride's predominantly white outfit, of which the color symbolizes purity in Shinto traditions.
"Hey, Kakeru." Yusuke greeted as he entered the room.
"Yusuke, what are you doing here?" Kakeru asked. "The wedding ceremony is only at noon."
"I know, I know. It's just that Noriko and I wanted to see a little bit of how things work around here."
"Thinking about what kind of ceremony would fit you and Noriko best if you choose to tie the knot?"
"A little bit of that, yeah. I have to say you look impressive in that attire." Yusuke said.
"Thanks. I didn't expect that it would look that good on me when the idea was first proposed, but it is really good."
Then Noriko stepped into the room to find Yusuke.
"Hey, Yusuke. I just heard that the bride is ready in the room next to here." Noriko said.
"Thanks, Noriko. I have to see this." Yusuke replied.
"Nice outfit, Kakeru." Noriko remarked.
"Thanks. Don't tell spoilers to Nana about my outfit, okay?" Kakeru said.
"It's okay. No spoilers." Noriko replied.
"We are honored that you have both Noriko and I among the attendees for this ceremony, Kakeru. It really means a lot for us." Yusuke said.
"You have become our closest friends over the years. It was obvious that you two would attend on this day."
"I guess Yusuke would be your best man while I would be Nana's bridesmaid in a Western-style wedding." Noriko said.
"I guess so." Kakeru replied.
"Best of luck with ceremony. We'll see you after that." Yusuke said.
"See you later, you two." Kakeru finished.
Yusuke and Noriko left a few moments before Kakeru's uncle Shigeru came to have a quick talk.
"Congratulations!" Shigeru said.
"Thank you very much, Uncle Shigeru." Kakeru replied.
"I already knew that this day would come, but I sure would not have written a better story than what you and Nana accomplished prior to this day. This wedding is the cherry on top of the icing on the cake after everything both of you won together. So all congratulations go to both of you."
"Yeah! How is your story progressing so far?"
"The first draft is under review with the publishing company. So far they say it looks promising." Shigeru said.
"That's really good news, Uncle Shigeru. I can't wait to read the book when it will come out." Kakeru replied.
Preparing the bride was a process that lasted lengthier than preparing the groom. Nana actually arrived at the salon by 6:30 AM to get her hair done, get her makeup on, and get dressed with the traditional wedding kimono. After 4 hours of preparations, Nana's parents and extended family were the first to see Nana's wedding outfit.
"Wow! Look at this." Noriko said right after she opened the door.
Yusuke was awestruck as soon as he saw the full and majestic outlook of Nana's wedding outfit.
"Astonishing." Yusuke said.
The bride was wearing a pure white, embroidered silk kimono called shiromuku ("white pure-innocence"), which symbolizes purity and that the bride will become part of the groom's family. The shiromuku requires the bride to put the following layers in order: 1) the nagajuban (undergarment), 2) the kakeshita (furisode with trailing hem), 3) the white obi (a long decorative belt wrapped around the body), and 4) the uchikake (highly formal kimono). Each of the layers is tied expertly by the staff at the salon. Looking closer at the uchikake, one could see motifs depicting white herons – the symbol of good luck. Nana was also wearing a black wig dressed in a traditional style on top of her rearranged natural hair. And on top of that wig, Nana was wearing a wataboshi (lit. "cotton hood") headdress – an all-white hood or cowl that acts as the Japanese equivalent of the Western bridal veil. Last but not least, Nana had a full face of pale, elegant makeup to accompany her outfit.
After members of the Mishimas' extended family too their share of pictures of the wedding dress, Nana and her parents took this moment to have a little chat first.
"You really are beautiful, Nana." Mrs. Mishima said. Nana's mother still needed crutches to walk.
"My daughter, you're a sight for sore eyes." M. Mishima added.
"I have been dreaming of this day for so long. Dad, Mom, I promise you that I will be happy." Nana said.
"From the day you and Kakeru have met, I always knew that something special would eventually happen. Always follow your heart just you always did." Mrs. Mishima replied.
"I will, Mom."
"Want to say something, my dear?" Mrs. Mishima asked her husband.
"Nana, you sure have gone a long way. I only wish I could have been more present to enjoy more of those moments between father and daughter along the way." M. Mishima said to Nana.
"It's okay, Dad. You did more than enough in what you could do. I have realized it after so many years."
"Everything was worth it... so I can see this day. I hope you will always keep that happy smile as before."
"Thank you, Dad." Nana said.
Then Yusuke and Noriko stepped forward to meet up with Nana.
"Congratulations, Nana!" Noriko said.
"Same here!" Yusuke added.
"Thanks, guys." Nana replied.
Noriko noticed that Yusuke wanted to say something but needed a little push to do so.
"You wanted to say something, Yusuke?" Noriko asked.
"Well, I... You know Kakeru has always been a very sensitive person, but I don't think I have ever known someone more loyal than him. You've got yourself a good man. Hope you will take good care of him like he will take good care of you." Yusuke said to Nana.
"I will. Both of you can trust me." Nana replied.
"You know... Seeing you in this outfit is a temptation to get married in a Shinto wedding someday." Noriko said.
"If you can endure the long process with the hair, makeup, and the dress, it is worth it for the moment of a lifetime. Already making plans of your own, Noriko?"
"Yusuke and I are here only to observe that part of the process today. We're still ways away before we can think about it."
"Without spoiling anything, Kakeru looks great himself in his own outfit in the room next door." Yusuke said.
"I can't wait to see it. Guess I will see you later after the ceremony." Nana replied.
"Yeah, and I will take a lot of photos and videos for the people at the reception to watch and enjoy." Noriko said.
"We'll see you later then, Nana." Yusuke added.
"Yeah. See you there." Nana finished.
Then Yusuke and Noriko parted ways with Nana and went to a different room in the salon, away from the main crowd.
"Hey, Yusuke, are you all right?" Noriko asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Yusuke replied.
"Are you sure? I think there is something else. Just tell me."
"Well... There was a time when I had a crush on Nana when I was in high school."
"You what?"
"About every teenager, who had no girlfriend around the time when Nana started playing for Nadeshiko Japan, had a crush on her. I envied Kakeru for being so comfortable around her even before they became an item, but I guess no one other than him ever had a remote chance of winning her heart."
"I see."
"It's fine. It's all in the past now. And besides, my own path led me to you."
"Everything in life happens for a reason." Noriko said.
"There you go." Yusuke finished with a smile.
A few minutes later, an employee from the wedding salon asked both the groom and the bride to walk out of their respective rooms in order to take part in a photo shoot at a small temple located next to the wedding salon. It was also the first time that Kakeru and Nana would be able to see each other's wedding outfit.
"Hi, Kakeru." Nana said.
Awestruck by the beauty of Nana's wedding outfit, Kakeru was at loss for words for a moment.
"Do you like my dress?" Nana asked.
"Oh... Yeah, I mean... You look really beautiful, Nana." Kakeru replied.
"I'm so glad. You look great in this outfit too, Kakeru."
"Thanks."
Then Kakeru gave his hand for Nana to take.
"Let's give the photographer the opportunity to get good photos of us before the ceremony." Kakeru said.
"Yep!" Nana replied.
Then Kakeru and Nana made their way together to the small temple nearby. The photographer officially affiliated with the wedding salon took his share of commemorative photos as part of the lifelong memories for the to-be-married couple. Various kinds of picturesque parts around the temple were used as background for the photo shoot. A photographer assigned to a wedding can take as many as 100 to 150 photos before and after the wedding ceremony combined.
After that photo shoot was finished, Kakeru and Nana went back to the wedding salon for a few final checkups before they would make their way to the shrine. Mrs. Mishima had one last thing to do before she would let Nana go.
"Nana, wait. I have to do one last thing." Mrs. Mishima said.
"Go ahead, Mom."
Nana got her lipstick touched up by Mrs. Mishima. Desperate the temporary handicap at the time, the action was something that Mrs. Mishima genuinely wanted to perform on her daughter.
"You know what this means. I hope you will remember it if you have a daughter getting married someday." Mrs. Mishima said.
"I know and I will. Thank you for everything you have done." Nana replied.
That touch-up of the lipstick by the bride's mother is regarded as the very last traditional Japanese ritual preceding the wedding ceremony. In the olden days when a bride went directly from her parents' home to her husband's home, this was the last thing the mother could ever do for her daughter. Even in the present day, the moment is a very emotional one for the mother.
Kakeru and Nana stepped outside of the wedding salon. Then they were greeted by a rickshaw driver, who had the task of taking the couple on a traditional rickshaw ride with a final stop at the historical Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine.
"Good morning. My name is Satsuki Kobayashi. I will be in charge of your ride for today." the rickshaw driver introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kakeru Aizawa."
"And I'm Nana... Kakeru and I are about to get married."
"Nice to meet you today." Satsuki replied. "So we will make this ride into town. It should allow enough time for your relatives and other people involved in the ceremony to make the short walk to the shrine before you arrive there as well."
"Of course. A little ride in town to clear the mind a little is very welcome, Kobayashi-san." Kakeru said.
"Indeed. It will be nice. Please watch your step on the way." Satsuki replied.
Kakeru and Nana got onto the rickshaw's double seat. Then Satsuki put on the seatbelt to insure her passengers' safety. In less than a minute, Satsuki got set to lift the rickshaw slowly and then begin the circuitous ride in the streets of Kamakura. During the ride, a number of Kamakurans recognized Kakeru and Nana before taking a few pictures of the couple without impeding the ride at all.
"So is Kamakura your hometown?" Satsuki asked.
"Yes. I was born and grew up in Kamakura all my life before I moved to England." Kakeru replied.
"I was born in America before I moved to Kamakura during elementary school. Then I went back to America for a few years before I came back for my middle and high school years in Kamakura. And then I moved to England alongside Kakeru." Nana added.
"Oh, that's good to know. Thank you very much. Have you known each other for a long time?"
"Nana and I first met in elementary school. Then we met again when she was transferred in during my 2nd year in middle school. We became very good friends from the start, then boyfriend and girlfriend, and now to be married."
"Oh, it is an incredible story! I heard that you're both playing professional soccer in England. Am I right?" Satsuki asked.
"We play together for the same club... no, the same team even. Nana is one of the very few women capable of holding her own against men. She has been a big reason why we won so many trophies together this year." Kakeru replied.
"Well, I wouldn't diminish Kakeru's impact in our success at all. I'm mostly the passer while Kakeru is the finisher. He is the top scorer of the last season in the United Kingdom after all." Nana added.
"I guess we can say that you are like perfect partners in crime both on and off the field then, right?"
"We can definitely say that." Kakeru finished.
For the rest of the ride, the small talk continued on various topics such as Satsuki's job as a rickshaw driver and what the soon to be married couple hopes for the future.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine, Kamakura, Japan
11:55 AM
Kakeru and Nana finally arrived Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine's third torii gate around 11:10 AM. Then the couple posed for a short photo shoot at the shrine. Other than the wedding's official photographer, a few photojournalists took the opportunity to take their own pictures for the media, all while maintaining a respectable distance from the couple and treating the event with the same respect as in a royal wedding.
Around 11:30 AM, Kakeru and Nana were guided by a shrine maiden (or miko) to the waiting room. The miko explained to the couple on how the ceremony would proceed for basically the next 30 minutes after the beginning. Then Kakeru and Nana signed a vow that the former would read most of during the wedding ceremony. And finally, Kakeru and Nana rehearsed some rituals that would be part of the ceremony, all under the shrine maiden's supervision. A few minutes before noon, the shrine maiden gave the signal to proceed.
"It is time." the shrine maiden said.
Kakeru and Nana gave each other one last glance.
"Here we are. Are you ready?" Kakeru asked.
"Yes!" Nana replied with a smile.
And thus began the 12 steps to the Shinto wedding ceremony.
Sanshin-no-Gi (参進の儀; Procession Ceremony)
The event began with a quiet procession to the shrine's Maiden Pavilion. Members of the procession included in the following order: A Shinto priest, shrine musicians, the shrine maidens, the bride and groom, an assistant to the priest carrying a large red umbrella to protect the couple from the sun, and the immediate families of the bride and groom.
Unlike Western-style weddings, there is no bridal party consisting of best men and bridesmaids. Family members are the first to be invited to the actual Shinto ceremony, but closest friends to the couple are among the chosen few to attend the ceremony as well. That is why Yusuke, Noriko, Araki, and Mai are set to be in the attendance, all formally dressed for the occasion.
Under the sound of the Japanese traditional flutes performing gagaku (classical Japanese music), the procession continued the march towards the Maiden Pavilion under the watch of the shrine's security staff and the few visitors lucky enough to be at the right place and time to witness the moment.
Nyujyo (入場; Entrance to the Shrine)
Prior to the entrance, the Shinto head priest was already present at the altar. Then the family members entered the pavilion in order of proximity of familial ties to the couple. The seats to the right of the altar are for the groom's family while the bride's family would take the seats to the left of the altar. Hence both families face each other on opposite sides of the hall.
Prior to the entrance of the bride and groom, everyone involved in the procession as well as the head priest gave a bow towards the altar. Then the shrine maidens led the bride and groom inside after the other guests already sat down. Kakeru and Nana sat down on chairs, in front of the head priest. The rituals could finally begin.
Shubatsu no Gi (修祓の儀; Purification Ceremony)
Before the ceremony would officially begin, the head priest proceeded with the purification ritual upon the congregation and the bride and groom at the wedding. The ritual is conducted to purify minds and bodies before the benevolent spirits would be called to attention. For that, the head priest shook over each worshipper the harai-gushi, which is a wooden wand to which is attached a big bundle of white papers.
The head priest purified the bride and groom before doing the same to parents and other relatives. The only sound that could be heard throughout the ritual was the sound of the paper being shaken. Nevertheless, it feels as if all minds present are calmed down and ready to meet the gods.
Norito Sojo (祝詞奏上; Shinto Ritual Prayer Reading)
After the purification ritual, the head priest read the Norito (ritual prayer to the gods) aloud. The text that was being read is a declaration of the new couple's love for each other, and their promise to be happy for a lifetime. As such, it is also appeal for blessings and protection for the couple. The prayer is delivered in Yamato-Kotoba, which is ancient Japanese language from 1,500 years ago. The main theme of the prayer was for eternal love and harmony between the 2 families. After the head priest finished reading the prayer, all attendees stood and bowed towards the altar. 
Sankon no Gi (三献の儀; Exchange of the Cups)
This ritual of drinking Japanese sake is definitely the most recognizable part of a Shinto wedding. It involves 3 sakazuki (ceremonial sake cups) stacked from largest to smallest. As the groom, Kakeru was the first to be given the smallest of 3 sake cups by the head priest. After the shrine maiden poured a small amount of sake in the cup, Kakeru drank the sake in 3 sips. Then the head priest offered the small cup to Nana, who also took 3 sips after the shrine maiden poured the same amount of sake as Kakeru previously drank. Then Nana took 3 sips from the medium cup. Next, Kakeru took 3 sips from the medium cup and then 3 sips from the large cup. The ritual known as the san-san-kudo (lit. three-three-nine times) ended when Nana took the last of her 3 sips from the large cup.
For people who cannot drink alcohol, people can just pretend to drink sake without being reprimanded. The significance of the action of taking 3 sips from 3 cups for a total of 9 sips is similar to the Western wedding phrase "for better or for worse, in sickness or in health." Other than the couple, the parents from both families can also be involved in the ritual by taking 3 sips per sake cup per person. Kakeru's parents and Nana's parents did the part to create those new and stronger bond between the 2 families.
Many different ideas float around to explain the symbolism behind the 3 sake cups. One of those beliefs involves the trinity of heavens, earth, and humankind. The first sake cup (ichi no sakazuki) symbolizes the heavens and shows appreciation for the ancestors. The second sake cup (ni no sakazuki) symbolizes the earth and the couple's vow to care for each other as long as they live. The third sake cup (san no sakazuki) represents humankind and prays for the couple's fertility.
Seishi Sojo (誓詞奏; Reading of the Vows)
At this step of the ceremony, Kakeru and Nana approached the altar before the former would be set to read the marriage vow. Prepared by the shrine's priests, the vow paper is the same document that Kakeru and Nana signed before the ceremony. The vow itself is not addressed to the couple being married, but to the Shinto gods instead. Nevertheless, it is a very precious occasion in the couple's life because it is the first and last time to speak to the gods in such a close vicinity. As the groom, it is Kakeru's duty to read the marriage vow as it was written on the signed paper. As the bride, Nana only has read the part that only has her name.
"On this great day, before the gods, we are sincerely thankful for this ceremony. Going forward, we will love each other, trust each other, share the good times and the bad times, make our community a better place, and swear that this will remain unchanged throughout our lifetime. Please protect us forever. We humbly offer this vow. Reiwa 1 (2019), July 14. Husband: Aizawa, Kakeru."
Then Nana spoke her part to acknowledge her signature on the marriage vow.
"Wife: Aizawa, Nana."
This was the first time that Nana publicly used "Aizawa" as her adopted surname. After the reading of the vow, Kakeru folded the document and put it as an offering on the altar.
Tamagushi Hoten (玉串奉奠; Tamagushi Offerings)
This solemn tradition being the most sacred part of the wedding, Kakeru and Nana each offered to the gods a tamagushi, which is sprig of a sacred tree, decorated with paper strips. The offered tamagushi carry the couple's thoughts and prayers through the end of the branch to the gods. Kakeru and Nana ended their part with the following joint actions from the couple in this order: bowing twice to pay respect to the gods, clapping hands twice to invite the gods and to ward off demons, and bowing one last time to send off the gods. Then Kakeru's father and Nana's father repeated the proceeding with their own offerings to the gods.
Yubiwa no Gi (指輪の交換; Exchange of the Rings)
Quite literally, this is the moment when the bride and groom exchanged rings. The ritual was not a part of Shinto wedding ceremonies, but was added in the 1950s due to the influence of Western-style weddings. Kakeru was the first to put the wedding ring on Nana's left ring finger as from groom to bride, in silence.
'You are the love of my life. I am yours, today and forever.' Kakeru thought as he looked deeply into Nana's eyes.
Then it was Nana's turn to put the wedding ring on Kakeru's left ring finger.
'My dearest, I give you this ring as a reminder of today and all of our hopes and dreams for the future.' Nana thought.
Following the exchange of rings, the couple bowed in front of the altar and then towards their relatives in the attendance.
Kagura Hono (神楽奉納; Dedication of the Sacred Dance)
For this other ritualistic part, the Shinto shrine maidens performed a sacred kagura dance as one of the many offerings to the gods. The dance was accompanied by music performed live by the shrine musicians. The music itself was also an offering to the gods.
Shinzoku Sakazuki no Gi (親族盃の儀; Toast with the Relatives)
Entering the last part of the ceremony, this was the moment to celebrate the newly formed bond between the 2 families. Each adult family member and relative received a cup with a small amount of sake poured in it. The bride and groom also received the same amount of sake in their cups. Under the guidance of the head priest, the upcoming drinking of sake would symbolize both families' support for the couple's marriage in the future.
"So please rise and hold your sake cups, everybody."
All participants from both families complied to the head priest.
"This toast means that every relative present here will do her or his best to support the bride and groom as they will go through married life together."
Then came the 2 long-awaited words from the head priest:
"Omedetou gozaimasu! (Congratulations!)"
"Omedetou gozaimasu!" Kakeru, Nana, and their relatives repeated.
The newly married couple and their respective families drank sake together, with 3 sips for each person.
Saishu Aisatsu (斎主挨拶; Greetings from the Shinto Priest)
To conclude the ceremony, the head priest led all participants to stand up and offer a deep and sincere bow in front of the altar to thank the gods, who blessed the marriage of the couple. At that point, both families could finally exchange words of congratulations.
Taijyo (退場; Exit)
The participants bowed in front of the altar one last time before they can leave. After a few words of thanks from Kakeru and Nana to the head priest, the newly married couple were led towards the exit by a junior priest. Both families also followed the couple to the outside of the Maiden Pavilion.
"It is finally done!" Kakeru said to Nana.
"Yeah, we are finally married before the gods!"
Kakeru and Nana gave each other a bridal kiss, which was met with a round of applause from their closest friends and the two families.
"My dearest." Nana said.
"The love of my life." Kakeru replied.
Then both sets of parents and relatives came to have a chat and congratulate the couple even more with smiles all around. Kakeru and Nana's closest friends finally caught up with the couple for a chat, after the relatives made way. Mito was also hanging around with the friends.
"Kake-nii, Nana-nee, you did it." Mito said.
"Thanks, Mito." Kakeru replied.
"I'm now so happy to call you 'Nana-nee' now. It means something for real."
"I'm glad too." Nana replied to Mito.
"Congratulations to both of you. Beautiful ceremony too." Araki said.
"Thanks, Araki." Kakeru replied.
"It was nice of you that you could join today." Nana added.
"I was never going to miss that moment. I have been a big supporter of you two for a long time after all." Araki said.
"Yeah, that's right. I remember when you pulled the other guys from the Enoshima team away so I could confess after we won the Nationals the first time. I couldn't find the words to confess to Nana that night, but you had the right idea." Kakeru replied.
"Oh, that is what happened back then. I always wondered why you were nervous that night." Nana said.
"Yep. But the wait ended on a right note and at the right time regardless." Kakeru replied.
Kakeru and Nana exchanged a smile to each other. Then Mai came to congratulate both her former crush and her best friend.
"Congratulations to both of you." Mai said.
"Thanks, Mai-chan." Kakeru replied.
"Thanks." Nana added.
"I enjoyed this ceremony. I really did." Mai said.
"Is this something you would like to have someday, when you will find a husband?" Nana asked.
"I don't know. I guess it will depend on a lot of things." Mai replied.
"Still searching for a man, Mai-chan?" Kakeru asked.
"Still am, but I know that man is out there somewhere. I just have to find him."
"Well, I hope you will find him soon." Nana said.
"And when the time will come, I will invite both of you to my wedding." Mai replied.
"We look forward to it, Mai-chan." Kakeru finished.
Then it was Yusuke and Noriko's turn to have a chat with the married couple.
"Did you like the ceremony, guys?" Nana asked.
"Every single bit of it." Yusuke replied.
"I took more than my share of photos and video footage." Noriko added.
"Think you will have enough time to make the montage before the reception, Noriko?" Kakeru asked.
"Just a few minutes on my laptop; the montage will be ready in no time."
"That's great!" Nana said.
"Now that I think about it, I only wish this old giant gingko tree was still here. It would have been a great spot for more photos." Kakeru remarked.
A one thousand-year-old gingko tree used to stand near the entrance of Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine before it was uprooted by a storm on 10 March 2010. The fallen tree's stump and a section of its trunk replanted nearby have produced leaves since. For everyone who lived in Kamakura and visited the shrine prior to that fateful date, the tree still remains a part of the collective memory.
"Yeah, I also miss that gingko tree." Yusuke replied.
"I guess we will do with the other parts of the shrine then." Nana said.
"We'll do." Kakeru added.
Then Eiko called over.
"Guys, we will start posing for more pictures. We'll do with the families and then with the families and friends." Eiko said.
"We're coming, Mom." Kakeru replied.
"There's a little more stock for you, Noriko." Nana said.
"Let's do this." Noriko finished.
The 2 families and the couple's closest friends posed with Kakeru and Nana for their share of family photos to cherish. Then Kakeru and Nana posed for a few more pictures featuring the married couple only, in some of the most picturesque parts of the historical shrine. With the formal part of the wedding now in the past, a celebratory reception with a larger group of friends and family was set to begin in a different part of Kamakura.
The wedding reception, known as kekkon hiroen in Japanese, traditionally includes family, friends, coworkers, and sometimes neighbors to the bride and groom. Depending on the number of invited guests, the reception can be quite a large and formal event. There is usually an entrance fee for the reception, which attendees can pay with cash ahead of time when they mail their RSVP in response to the inviting cards. The attire for the reception is formal. Men can go with the standard dark suit and tie (which must not be black) while female attendees can choose to wear kimonos or formal dresses. The only restriction about attire is that white color can only be worn by the bride and groom if they choose to.
When the wedding ceremony ended, it was merely before 12:30 PM. Hence for the sake of allowing everyone enough time to come at the designated venue, the reception was chosen to be a fancy afternoon lunch and was set to start at 2:00 PM. Kamakura Prince Hotel was chosen as the venue for the reception because its capacity as a considerable number of guests was expected.
Kamakura Prince Hotel, Kamakura, Japan
1:40 PM
Working at the reception desk were Kakeru's friends from high school: Kaoru Matoba and Michirou Takase. Both players of Urawa Red Diamonds were free to be a part of the reception as they already played their most recent match the day before. They were tasked to receive the guests and the shūgi-bukuro (special celebratory gift envelope).
The Japanese custom is for attendees to give crisp or brand new bills of money in those fancy envelopes designed specifically with upside-down-red-and-white ribbons. The traditional point behind goshugi (gift money) is to allow the newly married couple something that would certainly be useful to start their marriage and to help them pay for the expenses of the wedding celebrations. The amount given by each guest depends on the relationship with either the bride or the groom, but the lowest amount usually stands at ¥30,000 in a wedding in Tokyo or the Kanto region.
"I can only imagine the number of people we will have by the time the reception begins." Kaoru said.
"The crowd already looks big for real." Michirou replied.
"Good thing that we gave Kakeru our advice about this place."
At that moment, Sarah arrived at the reception desk.
"Sumimasen. Watashi wa... (I'm sorry. I...)" Sarah said before she got lost for Japanese words.
"It's OK. We also speak English. What is your name?" Kaoru replied.
"Oh, my name is Sarah Davies. I'm a friend of the bride."
"Davies... Yes, I see your name on the list. Welcome to this wedding reception. You can leave your gift with us."
"Of course."
Sarah handed her shūgi-bukuro to Kaoru. Then their hands touched for a brief moment, in which time seems frozen as they looked into each other's eyes.
'He's really cute.' Sarah thought.
'She's really pretty.' Kaoru thought.
Kouta Nakatsuka was walking by before he saw Sarah. It didn't take long before his old instincts took over as it happens every time that he meets a pretty girl.
"Hello! What is your name? You're so pretty! Can I have your number?" Kouta asked.
Needless to say, Sarah was feeling uncomfortable with Kouta moving a little too close to her.
"Okay, Kouta, it's time for you to go to your seat." Michirou said before he dragged Kouta away.
Then Yusuke and Noriko arrived to meet with Sarah a few seconds later.
"Right on cue, Sarah." Noriko said.
"You finally made it here. I see you just got acquainted with my teammate from the National Team, Kaoru Matoba." Yusuke said to Sarah before he spoke to Kaoru. "Matoba-san, Sarah-san only began to learn Japanese recently."
Then the English woman finally let Kaoru take her wedding gift to put it alongside the other envelopes.
"My name is Kaoru... Kaoru Matoba. I'm so sorry for my friend's behavior. If you need any help during the reception, you can ask it from me." Kaoru formally introduced himself.
"Thank you... Kaoru-san. Omedetou gozaimasu." Sarah replied with a bow.
The last couple of words are usually said by each guest to the people at the reception desk as a way to acknowledge the cause for the celebration.
"You are placed right next to us at the designated table. Come with us." Yusuke said to Sarah.
"Yeah, let's go." Sarah replied.
'Now that is interesting.' Yusuke thought.
'I sure didn't expect to see this, but it surely is a welcome sight.' Noriko thought.
Kaoru remained lost in his thoughts for a moment, still thinking about that first contact with Sarah. Meanwhile, Michirou came back to the reception desk after he put Kouta back to his assigned seat.
"Kouta, seriously at your age, man..." Michirou said out loud before he saw Kaoru seemingly daydreaming. "Hey, are you alright?"
"Oh! Yeah, I'm fine." Kaoru replied.
"Is that English girl having that much of an impression on you?"
"I admit that I would really like to know her more."
"How many foreigners have come in so far? There must have been a few."
"Outside of that English girl and Saeki's girlfriend, I have seen some of Kakeru and Nana's teammates. Those are namely: Matthias Köhler, Nikolaj Kristiansen, Marius Van Leeuwen, Erik Johansson, Jan Farkas, Andrew Shaw, and Santiago Araya."
"Those players basically are the whole backbone of their team." Michirou said.
"Yep. If we count them and the other invited players to this reception, including a few from Nadeshiko Japan, we could field 2 full teams for a friendly match." Kaoru replied.
Then Ryoma Oda presented himself in front of the reception desk.
"Oda-san?" Kaoru asked.
"I didn't think that you would come because of... you know." Michirou added.
"I thought of skipping this for the sake of reflecting on my actions from the last few months, but you can thank our friend Araki for convincing me to come." Ryoma replied.
"Oda, good timing." Ryuichi Araki came to meet up with his teammate and friend.
"Araki-san, Oda-san said that you convinced him." Kaoru said.
"Well, he is still a man of integrity even though he can be a hothead at times. I told him that the best way to make proper amends is to show up as a friend for this, and he agreed to it after thinking a little about it. Sometimes it takes a little more than just time to heal wounds." Araki replied.
"It's kinda ironic that I was the one keeping you in check for a few years. And now you're the one keeping me in check." Ryoma said with a smug.
"Come on, please leave your donation at the table." Araki said.
Ryoma gave his own shūgi-bukuro to Kaoru while Michirou put the checkmark next to Ryoma's name on the list to indicate the latter as present.
"Alright. Enjoy the reception, guys." Kaoru said.
Araki and Ryoma walked their way towards the reception hall. A couple of minutes later, Leonardo Silva showed up at the reception desk as the last active footballer to arrive at the wedding reception.
"There was a lot of traffic to go through on my way the reception. I wish I came in sooner." Leonardo said.
"It's fine, Silva-san. You still have a few minutes left before time." Kaoru replied.
"There's my donation." Leonardo handed the shūgi-bukuro.
"Thank you very much." Michirou said.
"Omedetou gozaimasu." Leonardo replied.
"Leo! You finally made it!" Mai came to greet Leonardo.
"It took me longer than I expected to get here, but I'm here at last. You look radiant, Mai."
Leonardo and Mai gave each other a couple of kisses on the cheeks. Kaoru and Michirou were surprised by the level of familiarity between the Brazilian talisman and the leading finisher of Nadeshiko Japan.
"I don't want to sound intrusive, but are you two... you know?" Michirou asked.
"Beanpole guy, you better not believe what is already written in the gossip columns." Mai replied.
"Mai and I grew up like siblings for a chunk of our younger years in Brazil. It's nothing more than that." Leo added.
"Ah, I see." Michirou said.
"Well, enjoy the reception." Kaoru said.
"Thank you, guys." Leonardo finished.
Leonardo and Mai made their way forward. Then the few remaining guests arrived just in time to be in the banquet hall by 2:00 PM. All of the guests were given predetermined seats at specific tables; friends at the front and family at the back. There is a personalized letter from the couple to the guests on each table. Last but not least, each of the attendees found a bag on her or his chair. The bag is a present from the couple called hikidemono, which is a traditional way for the newlyweds and their families to express their gratitude for attending this special occasion. The present usually contains sweets and other small objects, such as hand towels or decorations. Sometimes guests can choose their gifts from a gift catalog as well.
When the clock struck 2:00 PM, a video began to be shown on a blank screen inside the reception hall. Edited by Noriko, the presentation was a musical montage that included photos and video footage of the earlier wedding ceremony at Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine. After the video, the master of ceremony (MC) stepped forward to formally introduce the newlyweds to the attendance in the room, both in Japanese and in English.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's have a big round of applause for the newlyweds: Kakeru and Nana Aizawa!"
Then the doors of the reception hall opened up under the sound of a recorded piece of traditional Japanese music. Most people had their smartphones and cameras on the ready for the couple's entrance. Then Kakeru and Nana appeared at the door, at a specific moment during the song. After the couple took a deep and sincere bow, the guests responded with a loud round of applause. Then Kakeru offered his hand, of which Nana grabbed before the couple made its way towards the main center stage.
Kakeru was still wearing the same montsuki-haori-hakama that he wore at the wedding ceremony. Meanwhile, the biggest difference in attire between the ceremony and the reception came from the bride as Nana switched from the white uchikake kimono to the more colorful and predominantly red iro-uchikake kimono. Nana was also no longer wearing the wig from the ceremony albeit that she had her natural hair elegantly braided at the back of her head for the occasion.
The party began with an opening speech from Kakeru's uncle – Shigeru (as the nakado, who acted like a ceremonial best man), a short introduction from the MC, and short speeches from high-ranking guests such Teppei (the couple's former teacher/mentor) and Matthias (the couple's club captain). Then Kakeru and Nana were given the microphone so the couple would give a welcome speech to all of the guests. It was decided that Kakeru would read the speech in Japanese while Nana would translate it in English for those who are not fluent in Japanese.
"Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, good afternoon and welcome to this wedding reception. Nana and I are thrilled and delighted that you have chosen to share our special day, our wedding day. We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts as some of you have come a long way to join us and some of you have come from somewhere in this beautiful town that was our home for many years." Kakeru said.
Nana translated before Kakeru picked up with the second part of the speech.
"Whether you have come from Brazil, Chile, Denmark, England, Germany, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden or here in Japan, you have made a conscious decision to celebrate our marriage. This means a great deal to us. Words can hardly express how Nana and I feel about your love and support. Without you, there would be no us. This is why we are celebrating today, and we thank you again for being here."
Nana translated the part before Kakeru delivered the final words to his speech.
"We hope that you will eat, drink, and have a lot of fun today. Enjoy the event, everyone!"
After Nana translated the last part, the crowd gave another round of applause. Then the microphone went back to the MC as the upcoming ceremonial procedure would officially mark the beginning of the festivities.
The kagami biraki is the ceremonial opening of a sake barrel. The part is performed at weddings, sporting events, festivals, shop openings, and other events worthy of being celebrated. The large wooden barrel of celebration sake is presented next to the bride and groom's table on the main stage. It is said that the breaking of the round, wooden lid (representing harmony) would open the spreading of good fortune upon all the attendees of the event.
"We will invite the father and mother of the groom as well as the father and mother of the bride to join us. Please come forward to the stage." the MC said.
In the context of a wedding reception, the most common practice of kagami biraki sees the groom standing to the bride's right, just behind the barrel. Then Kakeru's parents stood to his right while Nana's parents stood to her left. Each of the 6 guests of honor to this ritual were given a wooden mallet before they posed for a few photos prior to the smashing of the lid.
"I have wanted to do this for a long time." Kakeru said.
"Me too, Kakeru." Nana replied.
The MC explained about the process as well as what is expected from the attendance, first in Japanese and then in English.
"To celebrate this special occasion, I want everyone to everyone to join us on this kagami buraki. When I will give the signal, I want everyone to shout 'Yoisho!' 3 times in a row. On the 3rd 'Yoisho!', the guests of honor will smash the lid with the mallets."
The word "yoisho" is an onomatopoeia that is used when lifting something heavy or beginning something. After explaining the process to the attendance, the MC turned towards Kakeru, Nana, and the parents.
"Are you ready?" the MC asked.
"Yes, we're ready." Kakeru and Nana replied while their parents nodded as well.
The MC turned his eyes towards the attendance once again.
"All right, let's do this on my signal. Sei no (All together now)!" the MC said.
"YOISHO! YOISHO! YOISHO!" the attendance shouted.
Kakeru, Nana, and their parents smashed the wooden lid open with the mallets to symbolically let harmony and good fortune overflow upon the reception. Another round of applause ensued in the reception hall.
"Thank you very much!" the MC said.
After the 6 guests of honor posed for a few more photos with the wooden mallets in hand, Kakeru took a wooden ladle to scoop the sake and then pour the drink into a squared wooden masu cup for each adult guest, who wanted a taste of harmony and good fortune. It was also the official moment when food started to be served by the hotel's waiters as well. A banquet of Japanese cuisine was served, including a colorful sushi presentation. Other foods like sea bream, herring roes, lobsters, prawns, and red rice (for good luck) were on the menu as well.
The newlyweds sat at their own table on the main center stage. Throughout the reception, some of the guests gave speeches for the couple. Yusuke, Noriko, Araki, Leonardo, and Mai had their respective speeches all had anecdotes to share and best wishes to send to the happy couple in a pre-arranged timeline that included intermissions. A few groups of friends – either Kakeru's, Nana's, friends of the couple, or club teammates posed for photos with the couple on the stage as well.
At the intermission that preceded the cutting of the cake, Kakeru and Nana got into a change of attire. Kakeru came back in a white tuxedo while Nana showed up in a Western-style wedding dress. The sight of the happy couple looking great in Western-style wedding clothes prompted even more cheers and applauses from the attendance.
"Oh, wow! You can get those two to wear anything, and they will make it look great." Noriko remarked.
"They definitely do." Yusuke replied.
Kakeru and Nana got their way back to the main stage. After the couple posed for more photos with the different groups of friends, all of the guests drank a toast to the happy couple. A couple of minutes later, what appeared to be a multi-tiered white wedding cake was wheeled out in for the famous cake-cutting ceremony. The moment was signalling the midway point of the wedding reception.
"Well, everyone, please make room for our professional photographer. It would be really appreciated. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment when the newlywed couple will cut the cake." the MC said.
Then Teppei, who already experienced the part at his own wedding with Ayaka, stepped forward to give a few tips to the newlywed couple about the process of cutting the cake. A food services employee from the hotel also assisted in explaining the part.
"This is how It goes: all you have to do is to cut the piece of real cake out from..." Teppei said.
"Right here at the larger bottom layer." the food services employee pointed the area to cut.
"Right. Then you cut the piece in half and then you feed each other with cake. That is what I did at my own wedding." Teppei said.
"Thank you, Iwaki-sensei." Kakeru replied.
"Make sure to give something nice for the cameras too, you two." Teppei said with a wink.
"Will do, Iwaki-sensei." Nana replied.
The fact of the matter is that the multi-tiered wedding cake is fake and only chosen by the couple for a few photos. The couple posed with the cake knife in hand before and after they "cut" the cake. The section that Kakeru and Nana went on to cut out was a little and yet decently-sized piece of real cake tucked into a niche in the back. With the portion then cut into 2 halves, Kakeru and Nana proceeded to feed each other with the cake. True to the idea that the size of the piece cake represents the amount of love for the other person, Kakeru and Nana managed to eat their pieces of cake. However, it was not without ending up with whipped cream mustaches... oops!
"You have a little mustache with all of that cream." Nana said with a giggle.
"First time I see you with a whipped cream mustache too." Kakeru replied between chuckles.
The guests laughed at the funny moment.
"KISS! KISS! KISS! KISS! KISS!" several guests shouted.
Without further ado, Kakeru and Nana gave each other a small kiss before removing the excess of whipped cream.
Then the waiters entered the reception hall with fancy desserts in hand. While the guests were being served with desserts, Kakeru and Nana came to greet their guests and light a candle at each table. With respect to Japanese traditions, the lighting of the candle at every table is meant as a symbolic sharing of warmth and light from the newlywed couple to the guests.
For the time that the guests were eating desserts, another video was shown on the screen. The montage featured captioned photos and videos going in this order of themes: 1) Kakeru's early childhood years, 2) Nana's early childhood years, 3) their first moments of chemistry in elementary school, 4) Kakeru's late elementary and early middle school years in Japan, 5) Nana's late elementary and early middle school years in the United States, 6) Kakeru and Nana's path together at Kamakura Middle School and then Enoshima High School, 7) their first call-ups with their respective Japanese national teams, 8) their growth as professional footballers at the same club, 9) the growth in their relationship off the field, 10) some of their best moments as first-team players, 11) Nana's pass and Kakeru's game-winning goal in the UEFA Champions League final, and 12) photos of the couple celebrating the titles they have won together.
Meanwhile, Kakeru and Nana took advantage of another intermission to leave the reception hall. Only Nana went on to change dresses this time as she replaced her wedding gown with an elegant evening dress. It was the last part of a Japanese bridal tradition called oiro-naoshi, which is the changing of attire by the bride during wedding day. Japanese brides can wear 3 or even 4 different attires between the beginning of the wedding ceremony and the end of the reception as the successive transitions symbolize the bride's flexibility to adapt and fit in the groom's family customs.
Moments after Kakeru and Nana came back to the reception hall, we came down to the most solemn moment of the reception. The bride and groom were set to read a letter to thank their parents for everything as we approached the end of the event.
Then we entered the final phase of the event a few moments later. First, the bride was set to read out a letter of thanks addressed to her parents while the groom stood next to her to help out with the microphone. For the non-Japanese guests, the English version of the text in the letter was projected onto the screen.
"Mom, Dad... How can I put into words the massive amount of gratitude I have for everything you did for me? You always supported me in more ways than one. I recently had time to reflect on everything we went through. I will share some bits of our story." Nana said.
Nana first looked towards her mother in the distance.
"Mom... I'm glad that I was able to be your greatest pride as your daughter. Ever since I was a child, you always believed in my potential. I remember that day when you enlisted me in that boys' soccer team in elementary school. I was not too sure about it, but you gave me the confidence to push forward. It was also on that day that I met a young boy, who would eventually become the man standing right next to me right here.
Nana took a glance at Kakeru, who smiled in return. There were a few audible "awws" in the attendance.
"Even after our family left Japan to America when I was in 5th grade before we would come back to Japan almost 3 years later, you were always there to support me when I needed it. You were the first person to see that I was not happy because of the amount of pressure I faced in America, and I'm forever grateful that you convinced Dad to finally settle in Kamakura so I would enjoy life at my own pace. Your support and your guidance throughout the years has allowed me to aim bigger, better, and beyond all limits one could have ever imagined to this day."
Then the next part of the speech was about her father.
"Dad... I used to think sometimes that you were working too hard. It's just that I was just not old nor mature enough to understand it until I became an adult myself. In fact, you worked very hard to make sure that I would not worry about anything while I was pursuing my own dreams. I guess I know from whom I inherited my work ethic now."
There was laughter in the room following that last remark, including from M. Mishima himself. 
"Nevertheless, I have enjoyed every single moment that you managed to share with me as my father because those memories are just irreplaceable no matter what. I will always be thankful that you moved us back to Japan when it was clear that my happy place as a young girl was always here. I'm also very glad that you accepted Kakeru as though he was your own when you met him for the first time after we started dating. You always wanted the best for me like any good parent would. I'm glad that you were also there to witness some of the greatest moments of my life, both on and off the pitch."
At that moment, Nana was on the verge of shedding a few tears. Kakeru put a her on her shoulder and then looked into her eyes, with a single message that could be told without words.
'You can do this, Nana. It's going to be alright.' Kakeru thought.
'Yeah!' Nana thought, responding to Kakeru with a smile.
Then Nana carried on with the final part of her message to her parents.
"Still, the most important thing is that I was able to see how strong a marriage can be when it goes through bad and good times alike through both of you. Thanks to you, I have seen an extraordinary example of how rich and full a married life can be. I promise that Kakeru and I will work hard to create a marriage as wonderful as the one I have witnessed under your roof. Mom, Dad, I love you and I thank you for everything." Nana finished.
The guests wiped their tears off and gave Nana a standing ovation after such a moving speech. A short moment later, the second part of the conclusion saw Kakeru and Nana presenting large flower bouquets to their parents as a way to thank them for everything they have done up until this point. Then Mamoru – the father of the groom delivered a short thank you address to all the guests present. Nevertheless, the most anticipated moment was the closing speech from the groom himself.
"Father, Mother, family, friends... On this day as Nana and I begin our new life together, we would like to say thank you, really, for everything you have done leading up to this day. We really appreciate your love and support. You know I've been through a lot... first with almost losing my passion for the beautiful game... and then after I lost my older brother. But whenever I was at a low point, you helped me to get back up on my feet, you cheered me up, and you pushed me to make that one step further in order to grow into a better person and a better player. Some mistakes were made a long the way, but I'm glad that I could stay true to who I really am, all thanks to you. This journey of mine is far from over as I know there will be times when I will need your support again. Nevertheless, I really believe that Nana and I... will be doing all right in the face of future challenges. We will continue to build on this foundation of which you laid the pieces, and our love for one another will grow and prosper from there. We look forward to a lifetime full of laughs and memories with all of you."
Then all of the guests and family members stood up to applaud Kakeru's words.
"Thank you for everything." Kakeru and Nana said with a bow.
And thus the wedding reception was officially over.
After the reception, the newlyweds and their parents stood at the exit to see the guests off and to thank them for coming. The elderly guests were making their way back home while the younger guests stuck around a little longer. Since the reception in the second half of the afternoon, there was plenty of time coming up for another kind of celebration in the evening: the nijikai (after-party).
In a nijikai, friends and colleagues would join the newlywed couple in moving to a more relaxed setting. This is the real party, the moment to get rowdy and to drink a lot if they feel like it while celebrating the union of the bride and groom. There are no real rules on how to hold such an event, but one has to be invited by the newlywed couple in order to get in. It is customary for guests to just pay the entry fee which covers the cost of the party itself, usually ranging between ¥5,000 and a maximum of ¥10,000. For the friends who could not make it to the reception, this was their opportunity to celebrate the wedding. Most of the Enoshima F.C. alumni from Kakeru and Nana's high school years were present.
The after-party took place in an expensive izakaya restaurant in Kamakura. Outside of a lot of drinking and eating, the guests got to dance to the music and play some games. Nevertheless, Kakeru and Nana went to see Araki and Ryoma off as the latter 2 were set to leave earlier than the rest.
"You're not staying for the raffle?" Kakeru asked.
"You're going to miss out on a lot." Nana added.
"I really wish I could stay, but Oda and I have to get to bed early. We will take a flight for America early in the morning to catch up with our team on the pre-season tour." Araki replied.
"The FA Community Shield is set to be played between our 2 teams in 3 weeks." Ryoma added.
"That's right. Summer is going by so quickly." Kakeru said.
"In any case, we need to work hard because we will want to take the crown away from you guys." Araki said.
"That's our main motivation for this new season. I won't give away an inch to you next time." Ryoma added.
Kakeru and Nana smiled at the challenge issued by their former schoolmates and now rivals. The newlywed couple never stopped relishing at new challenges.
"We will enjoy our honeymoon for one week, and then we will be down to business in Wembley." Kakeru replied.
"I can't wait for August 4 either." Nana added.
"I expect nothing less than a strong challenge. See you then." Araki said with a smile.
"It's a promise." Kakeru replied.
After a few handshakes with the newlywed couple, Araki and Ryoma finally went into the evening. Then Kakeru and Nana came back inside the izakaya, not yet aware that some good news just came to the ears of one of their long-time friends.
"Kakeru, Nana, I just got a phone call from my agent." Kaoru said with tears of joy in his eyes.
"What is it, Kaoru?" Kakeru asked.
"There is a deal... I will play for Celtic F.C. after the current J-League season."
"Ho, ho! You made it, Kaoru!" Kakeru exclaimed.
Kakeru hugged his long-time friend since the Enoshima days. The other Japanese guests cheered at the news. Kaoru Matoba was promised to become the 6th player from that generation of Enoshima High School alumni to have a chance to play football in any European league after Kakeru Aizawa, Nana Aizawa (née Mishima), Ryuichi Araki, Ryoma Oda, and Lee Chu-joon.
"Congratulations, Kaoru!" Nana said as she hugged her friend as well.
"This has to be celebrated big time." Kakeru added.
While the news already reached Japanese ears, Kakeru and Nana's non-Japanese teammates as well as Sarah were wondering what just happened.
"Hey, Fury, what is going on?" Matthias asked Yusuke.
"One of Kakeru's long-time friends will play in Europe after the end of this J-League season." Yusuke replied.
"That's great news for Japanese football."
"Where will he play?" Sarah asked.
"Glasgow... Celtic. His journey will begin in January." Noriko replied.
"Wow!" Sarah exclaimed. "So he will be a bhoy in green."
"He will." Yusuke replied.
Then Noriko pulled Sarah a little further away.
"Why not give him a nice memory, starting on the dance floor?" Noriko asked.
"What?" Sarah returned the question.
"Come on, I saw how you looked at him at the reception. I can see that spark in your eyes. You encouraged me to go the extra mile with Yusuke back in November. So I'm returning you the favor here. Go ahead on the next shot."
"Hmm... Why not?" Sarah finished.
Then Kakeru took up center stage to make the announcement to everyone in English.
"Our friend Kaoru Matoba here is set to play in Europe, starting in next January. Now that the news came when we're already here to celebrate our wedding, we can make this a double celebration. I will pay the round." Kakeru said.
All of the guests cheered loudly in response.
From that moment forward, everyone at the nijikai enjoyed more drinks, more dancing, and more music. Kakeru and Nana gave the first dance before the other guests followed up. Sarah managed to invite Kaoru for a dance. A raffle draw, where really generous prizes could be won by the participating guests, also took place a little later in the evening as somewhat of an instant return to the entrance fee for the winners. In all, it was the party of a lifetime for the newlywed couple.
After enough time had passed in the evening, the vast majority of the guests at the nijikai were thanked and sent on their way with prizes and gifts. With everyone else already gone, Kakeru, Nana, Yusuke, and Noriko walked their way back towards Kamakura Prince Hotel to spend the night there.
"Mmm, what a day!" Noriko exclaimed.
"Having lived through all of it, I sure want to have my own sooner than later." Yusuke said.
"It will come. Don't worry. Just find the right moment to tie the knot." Kakeru replied.
"That being said, I was surprised that Sarah and Kaoru got the chemistry going straight away. They looked so natural when they danced together, and now they are probably having fun in some love hotel in town." Nana said.
"I guess we can say it is love at first sight." Noriko replied.
"I agree. She deserves to find a new man in her life, and that's a good way to heal from her last heartbreak." Yusuke added.
"Speaking of you guys, what are your plans for the honeymoon?" Noriko asked Kakeru and Nana.
"We fly off tomorrow afternoon for a full week on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa. Great sandy beaches, encounters with nature and wildlife, and crystal-clear water to get into snorkeling and diving over there. It has been my dream for a long time." Kakeru replied.
"We already booked a villa at Fusaki Beach Resort. It will feel like living in paradise." Nana added.
"Very good taste, guys." Noriko said.
"I'm sure you will make a lot of memories over there. Enjoy all of it." Yusuke added.
"We will." Nana replied.
"Plenty of memories indeed. Freedom." Kakeru finished.
A new chapter in Kakeru and Nana's lives has begun. As much as they already share a lot of great memories as a young newlywed couple and as footballers, the celebration of their new union is the promise of many, many fond memories in the weeks, months and years to come.
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Category:The Road to the Promised Land
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