Photo Album

June Brides

She is glowing in the sunlight.

A powerful bridegroom holds up a bride. 　　　Friends join the couple to celebrate.(The bridegroom is blind.)

"Is this pose OK?" 　　　　　Talking about future life. 　　I took this shot behind the cameraman

An Essay Column

An Album of June-Brides in Russia

     To our surprise and fortune, during our trip visiting the settings of worldwide noted novels, we witnessed many pleasant spectacles. It was as if they were specially prepared for us. For example, wherever we went, we met many newly married couples with the happiest and brilliant faces.

     In Saint Petersburg, Moscow and Yasunaya Poryana (the birthplace and museum of  Lef Tolstoy ) we saw more than twenty wedding ceremonies. 

     Most of the bridegrooms wore distinguished black jackets or formal suits. Without a doubt, however, the most attractive person in the party was the very bride herself. Every one of them had clear skin and beautiful blond hair. They looked magnificently beautiful in their long white dresses with the long white veils adorned on their heads. They were glowing in the sunlight.

     Many couples who held wedding ceremony at churches a short while ago were taking commemorative pictures and videos at the park, over the bridge or at the garden in front of the Moscow University. I presumed they selected those memorable places with the hope of connecting them with their lives.

     Whenever I found such groups, I hurried to them with my camera and situated myself as the last photographer in line. It was a happiest moment for the couple. I didn’t think that they would mind my picture taking although I was a stranger from an Asian country. In addition, I asked our interpreter to teach me the words to offer my sincere congratulations on their marriage so I could transmitted these words in a loud voice.

“Shasliva! (I wish you every happiness.)”

     Hearing my words, some of the brooms responded with an appreciative smile.

     The crowd around the couple echoed with.

“Gorico, Gorico!”

     I learned that “Goric” means “bitter” in Russian. The meaning has been expanded to signify “The surrounding is bitter. So you, two, have to make this surrounding sweet.” In other words, “Please show us what you can do to make this surrounding sweet.”

     Hearing these words of banter, the couple began to kiss passionately, embracing tightly, for a long time. Then the crowd around the couple began to shout, “Odin(one), Dva(two), Tri(three)…….” to make the kiss last longer. The cameramen around them captured this Kodak-moment and so did I from behind.

     June is the rainy season in Japan but in Russia June is the most beautiful and comfortable time when green leaves are abundant after the long cold winter. I understood that in Russia they didn’t have a tradition such as “June Bride” , but they made the best use of the short summer by arranging marriages during the month of June.

     Our tour with the intention of visiting the setting of the famous Russian novels was fundamentally hectic, but through these encounters, our experience was converted to one of heartfelt pleasure, especially witnessing these sweet sceneries of newly married couples.

She blows bubbles to him through a ring . 　　　 Taking pictutes at Tolstoy' s house.

Be careful not to fall down to the canal ! 　　　Pleasant honey moon is at their hands. 　　　To hear the advice from senior is important. 　　　　The happiest moment. Junp up to the sky.