Gentle, Flawless Business Japanese#

As a professional wedding planner, Koyomi consistently uses polished, textbook-perfect keigo (formal Japanese). Her character is also portrayed as kind and empathetic, so her speech style is gentle and warm—an ideal model for learners, especially those interested in service industry communication.

Source: Iwaoka Hisae, Kichijitsu goyomi (Shodensha)

Frequent Switching Between Formal and Casual Speech#

Characters like Koyomi, Shinoyama, and their clients naturally shift between polite and casual speech depending on who they’re talking to. This allows readers to observe subtle changes in tone based on social context, setting, and relationship. You’ll encounter a wide range of keigo—from service staff to clients—making the manga a valuable resource for learning how Japanese is used appropriately in different real-life situations.

Source: Iwaoka Hisae, Kichijitsu goyomi (Shodensha)

A Day When the Bride Becomes the Star#

In Japan, weddings are often viewed—especially for women—as the ultimate day of personal celebration. Many brides dream of this event as the one time in life when they can truly take center stage. This “princess moment” reflects a deep-rooted cultural ideal, where the bride gets to be the most beautiful, celebrated person in the room—like the heroine of her own fairy tale.

Because of this, brides (and often their families) may have very strong preferences regarding everything from dress styles to flower arrangements, meal courses, guest seating, and even background music. It’s not just a ceremony—it’s a deeply personal statement.

One unique feature in Japanese weddings is the number of oironaoshi, or costume changes. It’s common for brides to wear two or even three different outfits throughout the celebration—typically starting with a traditional kimono or white wedding gown and later switching to a colorful dress or even another formal ensemble. These changes symbolize different aspects of the event and offer the bride multiple chances to shine throughout the day.

A Big Industry with High Emotional Stakes#

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan’s wedding industry was a major economic force. Dedicated wedding venues, luxury hotels, dress rental companies, florists, and even wedding-themed photo studios created a highly specialized, high-stakes market.

Even today, despite a gradual shift toward smaller and more flexible ceremonies, the planning process remains intensive. Countless decisions must be made before the big day, and last-minute changes are extremely common. From family expectations to sudden weather problems, planners are expected to adjust on the fly—gracefully.

High Cost, High Expectations#

Japanese weddings are expensive. A traditional ceremony and reception can easily cost the equivalent of tens of thousands of dollars. Much of this cost goes into making the event feel luxurious, seamless, and memorable—often with detailed, hand-crafted touches that reflect the couple’s story or preferences.

But with high cost comes high pressure. Family opinions, tight deadlines, and emotional buildup mean that misunderstandings and stress are not uncommon. It’s no surprise that weddings are often a setting for drama—not only in fiction, but in real life.

The Wedding Planner: A Behind-the-Scenes Hero#

Given the complexity of planning, the role of the wedding planner in Japan is especially demanding. Far beyond simple scheduling, planners must coordinate vendors, communicate with nervous couples, resolve last-minute emergencies, and keep everything on track—all with a smile.

It’s a high-stress job that demands emotional intelligence, customer service skills, and near-military levels of organization. In fiction and in real life, these professionals often go unrecognized, but they’re the ones who truly make “the perfect day” possible.

Why It Matters for Japanese Learners#

Understanding Japanese wedding culture provides more than just cultural trivia—it gives language learners insight into how emotion, etiquette, and service play out in Japanese society. From polite phrases used in formal consultations to the delicate ways planners navigate emotional conversations, weddings are full of real-world Japanese communication.

Whether you’re reading a manga like Kichijitsu Goyomi or attending a ceremony yourself, knowing how weddings work in Japan helps you better understand not just the language, but the values behind it.

Feeling stressed at work? This might hit too close to home.#

Because wedding planners often face demanding or unreasonable clients, some scenes portray frustrating or exhausting situations. If you’re currently dealing with similar stress in your job, reading this manga might not be the most relaxing experience.

Source: Iwaoka Hisae, Kichijitsu goyomi (Shodensha)