Japanese Wedding Vows

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Here are two of the several standard Japanese texts that have been used for many years throughout Japan at western-style wedding ceremonies.

The first set of vows is where the groom repeats each line of the vows as the pastor reads them out. Then, the bride similarly repeats each phrase.

The second, and most common set of vows, is where the pastor reads the entire vows to the groom, who then responds with simply: "Hai. Chikaimasu" ("I do"). The pastor then reads out similar vows to the bride, who also responds with "Hai. Chikaimasu.

kanji version

Each line repeated

• Vows from the groom to the bride:

  Each phrase or sentence is spoken by the Minister and repeated by the Groom:
  literal translation

  Watakushi wa kono josei to kekkonshi
  Fufu to narou to shite imasu
  Watakushi wa kenkouna tokimo
  Soudenai tokimo
  Kono hito o aishi
  Kono hito o uyamai
  Kono hito o nagusame
  Kono hito o tasuke
  Watakushi no inochi no kagiri
  Kataku sessou o mamoru koto o
  Chikai masu.
  This woman, I marry
  No matter what the health situation is
  I will love this person
  Respect this person
  Console this person
  Help this person
  Until death
  Protecting fidelity
  I swear.
• Vows from the bride to the groom:

  Each phrase or sentence is spoken by the Minister: and repeated by the Bride:. The lines are identical to the above with the exception of the first line:

  Watakushi wa kono dansei to kekkonshi...
  This man, I marry ...

Entire vows read out, then acknowledged by the groom/bride

• Vows from the groom to the bride:

  Minister:

  Shinro, (groom's name), anata wa kono jyosei to kekkonshi fuufu to naru to shite orimasu.
  Anata wa, kenko na tokimo, soudenai tokimo, kono hito o aishi, kono hito o uyamai, kono hito o nagusame, kono hito o tasukete, sono inochi no kagiri kataku sessou o mamoru koto o chikaimasu ka?
  Groom, (groom's name), you this woman marry and become her partner.
  Will you in peaceful times, during sickness, this person love, this person respect, this person comfort, this person help, until death, do you promise to fulfil?

  Groom:

  Hai, chikaimasu.
  Yes, I promise.
• Vows from the bride to the groom:

  Minister:

  Shinpu, (bride's name), anata wa kono dansei to kekkonshi fuufu to naru to shite orimasu.
  Anata wa, kenko na tokimo, soudenai tokimo, kono hito o aishi, kono hito o uyamai, kono hito o nagusame, kono hito o tasukete, sono inochi no kagiri kataku sessou o mamoru koto o chikaimasu ka?
  Bride, (groom's name), you this man marry and become his partner.
  Will you in peaceful times, during sickness, this person love, this person respect, this person comfort, this person help, until death, do you promise to fulfil?

  Bride:

  Hai, chikaimasu.
  Yes, I promise.

kanji version