In recent posts, we highlighted some fascinating divorce trends and celebrations that are cropping up everywhere. Some notable ones include Mauritania’s lively divorce parties and the growing popularity of divorce registries and rings. People seem to be embracing the idea that a split deserves just as much fanfare as a wedding. As it turns out, the Japanese are way ahead of the curve. Back in the late 2000s, they were already pioneering divorce celebrations that, frankly, feel like they belong in 2024.
Today, we’re taking a closer look at Japan’s innovative approach to parting ways and most importantly, considering just how likely it is that the United States might adapt some of these ingenious ideas.
Divorce ceremonies: When a parting deserves a party
In 2009, Japan saw a rise in divorce ceremonies, sparked by various crises, including tsunamis, earthquakes, and other life-changing events. Ever practical, many Japanese married couples took these events as an opportunity to reassess their priorities. They ultimately decided that life was too short to stay in unhappy marriages. And so, the concept of the divorce ceremony was born.
With divorces on the rise in Japan at the time, the idea of celebrating a couple’s amicable parting caught on quickly. Much like weddings, these ceremonies included special attire, a feast, and rings, though instead of exchanging rings, the newly ex-couples would smash them. And while not quite as pricey as a wedding, these ceremonies weren’t exactly cheap either.
Likelihood of adoption in the US
These ceremonies seem pretty straightforward and, honestly, fun (and who doesn’t like fun?). There’s no reason we couldn’t embrace them here. In fact, we’d be surprised if many couples in the US haven’t already adopted the concept of undergoing divorce ceremonies to show their mutual goodwill post-split.
Divorce mansion: Where rings go to die
In most countries, divorces are finalized in courtrooms or in the presence of legal professionals. But in Japan’s whimsical divorce ceremony, couples looking to end their marriages could choose the more theatrical option of visiting a "divorce mansion" hosted by a man named Hiroki Terai.
For this ceremony, the couple arrives separately — aboard their own rickshaws, no less — followed by their families and friends. Once at the mansion, the soon-to-be-exes perform the ultimate act of closure: smashing their wedding rings.
A certain Mr. and Mrs. Fuji chose this path to part ways, and Mr. Fuji had this to say about the ceremony: “When we smashed the ring together, I felt like, ‘Oh, this is the end of it, really.’” It appears that smashing the ring provided the same sense of finality as signing a divorce decree for Mr. Fuji.
Likelihood of adoption in the US
Unless an enterprising American is willing to play the role of Hiroki Terai and build a divorce mansion, couples might have to get creative. A pop-up "divorce venue" could do the trick. Why not repurpose a warehouse, a bingo hall, or even a community center for the occasion? The possibilities are as limitless as the reasons for divorce.
Divorce ceremony planner: Because breakups deserve a master planner
By “divorce ceremony planner,” we don’t mean divorce attorneys, though the terminology seems suitable to what we do. Divorce has its own share of rituals: meeting with lawyers, dividing assets, negotiating child custody and support, and, of course, signing stacks of paperwork. If anything, it could use a little more pomp to go with the circumstance.
In Japan’s divorce ceremonies, the planner is the key figure who oversees the event. For a few hundred dollars, they organize the rituals that mark the end of a marriage. It’s a unique way to celebrate closure while leaving the legal stuff to the pros.
Likelihood of adoption in the US
Unlikely. Here in the US, we already have a lineup of professionals handling different parts of a divorce. That said, if smashing rings or valuables is your idea of closure, we’re not here to stop you. Just don’t forget about asset division, and destroying property might complicate things. As your attorney, we strongly recommend keeping the smashing symbolic and the valuables intact.
While the Japanese’s divorce ceremonies are certainly fascinating, remember that no amount of ring-smashing can replace having attorneys dissolve your marriage for you. LaGrandeur & Williams provides the experienced legal counsel you need for your family law case in Washington State. Contact us today to handle your divorce the proper way — no rickshaws required.