Ceremonies to celebrate divorces have gained momentum in Japan after the massive March earthquake and tsunami, followed by an ongoing nuclear crisis, caused unhappy couples to reassess their lives。
The ceremony to mark a couple's transition to being single again costs 55,000 yen ($690)， includes a buffet meal and culminates with the ritual smashing of their wedding rings with a gavel。
Tomoharu Saito, who took part in Tokyo with his wife Miki days before they were set to file for divorce, said crushing the rings felt cathartic。
"I did not think the ring could be crushed that easily, but it did," he said. "I was shocked but at the same time, I feel it helped me make a clean break."
The ceremony also includes a "divorce dress," and Miki Saito chose a daisy-yellow summer dress. In Japan, daisies are believed to symbolize an "amicable or platonic relationship."
Designer Akiue Go said he created the dress with emphasis on the back for a specific reason. "I designed this dress so the woman's back looks the most beautiful when she turns around and walks away," he said。
Hiroki Terai, a 31-year-old former salesman, spotted a gap in the market and pioneered the divorce ceremony two years ago. Since then, he's celebrated more than 80 breakups。
Requests for the ceremony have tripled since the March 11 9.0 magnitude quake set off a massive tsunami。
"The March 11 disaster made many couples rethink their priorities. Some found that work was a higher priority to them than family, and this helped people gain the confidence to decide on a divorce," Terai said。
"Those who want an amicable divorce are doing these ceremonies."
Miki Saito said the earthquake made her realize she wanted to be closer to her parents, who live in northeastern Japan in one of the areas badly affected by the quake。
"After the quake, my desire to go back and live with my parents grew stronger," she said。
Guest Hiroko Tada was present for both the beginning and the end of the Saitos' marriage. "I'd say congratulations to the amicable
divorce," she said. "I could have never imagined this day would come because I was at their wedding, but since they did break up, this is one of the best ways to do it."
日本自今年三月发生强震和海啸以来，举办离婚典礼的人数激增。这些灾难以及随后发生的持续性核危机促使生活原本不幸福的夫妇开始重新审视生活。
离婚典礼花费为5.5万日元(690美元)，用来庆祝双方重返单身，包括一顿自助餐。夫妇一起手握木槌、砸毁婚戒时，离婚典礼达到高潮。
在离婚登记几天前，斋藤友治和妻子美树在东京举办了离婚典礼。他说，砸毁婚戒使情感得到了宣泄。
他说：“我原本觉得婚戒不容易被打碎，但其实不然。我很吃惊，但同时也相信这能够让我重获新生。”
该典礼还要求身着“离婚礼服”，斋藤美树挑选了一件菊花黄色的夏裙。雏菊在日本象征着“友好的情谊，或者柏拉图式的理想关系”。
礼服设计者伍秋植称，他将礼服背面作为设计重点，有特别的用意。他说：“我如此设计这条裙子，为的是让女人转身离去时留下最美的背影。”
31岁的寺井广树曾经是一名推销员，他在两年前发现了这一市场空白，开创了离婚典礼。至今，他已为80多对夫妇举办了离婚典礼。
自3月11日日本发生9级大地震及海啸以来，离婚典礼的申办量达到原来的三倍。
寺井广树说：“3•11大地震让许多夫妇重新审视生活的重心。一些人认为工作比家庭更重要，这坚定了他们离婚的信心。
“想要和平分手的人都举行这种离婚典礼。”
斋藤美治说，地震的发生让她想要离父母近一些。她的父母住在日本东北部，那里是受灾最严重的地区之一。
她说，“地震发生后，我想要回去跟父母同住的愿望更强烈了”。
嘉宾寺广树见证了斋藤友治的结婚典礼和离婚典礼。她说，“我想祝贺他们能够和平分手。我从来没有想过会有这一天，因为当初我参加了他们的婚礼。但既然他们决定离婚，能举行离婚典礼最好不过了”。