Understanding the Origins, Roles, and How to Request Them: Do You Know About "Amaterasu," the Traditional Japanese Bride's Maid?

Do you know "Amahime"?

Like a Japanese-style bridesmaid! Do you know about "Amahime," who helps Japanese-style brides?

In Japan, there has been a custom for a woman closely related to the bride to act as her assistant during the wedding ceremony since ancient times. It was believed that women who performed this role would soon find happiness.

Amahime, the Japanese-style bridesmaid, has revived this tradition in modern times♡

What is the role of Amahime? How is it different from a bridesmaid?

The role of Amahime is to support the bride on the day of the wedding, but there aren’t strict rules about what she must do.

Amahime can re-enter the venue with the bride, help with the performances, and take cute photos together at the high stage.

Just like a bridesmaid, it’s perfectly fine to make requests freely◎

A typical performance unique to Amahime is called "Hime Furumai."

The white kimono and colored uchikake that the bride wears represent the highest status in kimonos. Hime Furumai is a performance where the bride walks and waves her sleeves grandly in front of guests, sharing happiness with them.

Amahime stands at the front with the bride as they enter the reception and watches over the bride as she waves her sleeves.

This photo shows Amahime handing each flower to the bride before the Hime Furumai♡

You can also do a pre-wedding photoshoot in kimono with Amahime♡

Additionally, some brides choose not to wear traditional kimono at the reception, but instead have a photoshoot in kimono with Amahime.

Just imagining having a pre-wedding shoot in matching kimonos with close friends sounds like so much fun!

While bridesmaids dressed in gowns are well-known in Japan, there are still relatively few brides who incorporate Amahime.

If you suggest, "How about we do a pre-wedding shoot in kimono together?" I'm sure they'll be very happy♡

Who should you ask to be Amahime?*

Like bridesmaids, Amahime should be someone trustworthy and close to the bride. It’s fine to ask not just friends, but also sisters or cousins.

Unmarried women should wear furisode, while married women should opt for homongi. This is different from bridesmaids who all wear the same dress regardless of marital status.

How do you choose the kimono for Amahime?*

Just like bridesmaid dresses, the bride will choose and prepare the kimono for Amahime.

☑ Use a dress shop that offers costumes for Amahime

☑ Rent a kimono from a costume rental shop

☑ Use an online shop that rents kimonos

There are various methods.

Renting is more common since it tends to be relatively more expensive than bridesmaid dresses.

Unless it’s a shop that specifically has costumes for Amahime, it’s rare to find a store that can offer 5 to 6 kimonos with the exact same pattern, so you may need to search for similar costumes and visit multiple stores…!

The bride in this photo went around kimono rental shops in Asakusa on a whim to find a similarly elegant kimono.

She coordinated everything from the obi, obiage, and obi-dome, so her friends just needed to visit the kimono rental shop.

With kimonos, not only is hair styling needed, but dressing is also necessary, so securing a beauty salon is also the bride’s task.

Although the preparation is demanding and costs can add up, there’s no doubt that Amahime’s friends and the guests will appreciate it!

If Amahime is a bridesmaid, is there a need for an usher?

In overseas weddings, the counterpart to bridesmaids is ushers. Ushers are male friends of the groom who support him on the wedding day.

There doesn’t seem to be a direct counterpart to Amahime, the Japanese-style bridesmaid, but it would be lovely to have one of the groom’s friends wear hakama and serve as an usher♡

A group photo of a Japanese-style bridesmaid and usher would be impressive…!

Dreaming of the Japanese-style bridesmaid "Amahime"♡

We introduced the role of "Amahime," who supports Japanese brides. This will surely become a lifelong memory not just for the bride herself, but also for her friends.

If you’re a bride considering a traditional wedding or pre-wedding photography, why not ask someone to take on the role of Amahime?♡