Japanese Wedding Tradition: San San Kudo

We decided to include a Shinto wedding tradition of San San Kudo. Being in Canada Shinto priests are very uncommon, while Buddhist Japanese ministers can be found in major cities. We decided to have our friends help us conduct and relay this ceremony to our guests and grateful for having them do so.

San san kudo which literally translates as ‘three-three-nine-times’. The couple each takes three sips from three special, differently sized cups, each one slightly larger than the other

Odd numbers are seen as being lucky in Japan, and in particular the number three because three cannot be divided in two, making it a fortunate number for weddings in Japanese culture, so drinking three times from three different cups is thought to be particularly auspicious.

The couple should not drink the sake like a “shot” but instead, sip it lightly and savour the drink. The alcohol may not be the best drink out there to sip but this represents the couple’s married life not always being delightful. They will have to overcome life’s challenges with the joint spirit of the san san kudo.

Three is an indivisible number, and it is considered a sacred number. Nine means triple happiness. By exchanging the nuptial sake sips—three times three—the couple is united. The cups used are called “sakazuki,” which is only used to drink sake and no other beverages.

For our wabi-sabi ceremony. The smallest of the cups represents heaven. This golden sakazuki was from Galen’s grandmother. The second cup represents the earth and is made from clay by Galen’s grandfather. The final sakazuki represents humankind and was cared for by Kevin grandmother. This Tetsubin, or cast iron kettle, was Galen’s grandmothers and the table that they all stand on was made by Kevin grandfather.