Face pale and drawn, Kathu despaired, nearly consumed with worry and dread. Today was her wedding, and she was about to marry a man she'd never met. This marriage to a thirty-five-year-old widower with a five-year-old daughter had been arranged by her cousin. Thirty-year-old Kathu had absolutely no say about any of it. The year was 1935 and the country was Japan. Mithuo, Kathu's soon-to-be husband, was a complete stranger, although Kathu had met him briefly once. But, because of her shyness, she hadn't looked at his face then, and now couldn't even imagine what he looked like.

How could this be happening, Kathu wondered as she folded the sleeping mats, known as futon, and put them away in the oshiire, otherwise known as the closet. She opened the shoji, Japanese sliding doors, and looked at the pine trees in the backyard. Kathu usually enjoyed greeting each day in this way, but this morning couldn't enjoy the fresh air.

"I have to marry a stranger. I don't even know what he looks like. I am very scared. Sister, please help me!" Kathu and her sister, Aki had been very close. Aki, two years older than Kathu, was a very beautiful woman, talented at Japanese painting and skiing. However, when Kathu was sixteen, Aki suddenly died. Their shocked father died one year later and, one month after his death, their mother also died. Before Kathu's mother died, she asked her relatives, "Please take care of Kathu!"

Midori's parents wedding picture Submitted by Midori Bamba

They did, but in doing so took away everything from Kathu--her house, kimono store, money and many other things. If a girl lost her background it was nearly impossible for her to get married because few people wanted to enter into a marriage arrangement with a woman who had so very little to offer. It took fourteen years to arrange the marriage, but eventually her cousin facilitated the arrangement. "Mother, Father, Aki, please help me," Kathu said, head in her hands. She closed her eyes, then suddenly, her sister's face appeared. Aki said, "Do not be worried, Kathu. Be strong!"

During the wedding, Kathu wore a wedding kimono and a thunokakushi. According to old Japanese customs, women were believed to have horns. Thus, brides were required to hide their horns with white cover, which was accomplished with the thunokakushi that wound around the woman's forehead. Kathu and her groom stood together for a wedding picture after the ceremony, but still she didn't look at Mithuo. This all felt so wrong to Kathu, who long before had given up all hope of ever being married. Today she dreamed not of being a bride, but of being an architect---radical thought for a woman in 1935, living in a culture that believed only men should have paying jobs. "But what choice do I have," Kathu thought.

After the wedding, a still very ambivalent and incredibly shy Kathu went to the bedroom and waited for her husband to join her. Her hands trembled, her heart tightened and she felt as if she couldn't breath. Then Mithuo came into the room. He seemed to understand Kathu's feelings as he kept his distance for a moment. "Let us pray," he said, suddenly sitting on the floor and reaching for her hands. "Thank you, God for giving me Kathu as my wife. We promise that we can walk together though our lives. When we are rich or poor, sick or healthy please bless our marriage. In Jesus name, Amen." Kathu, though shocked at the words, smiled. She had never seen a man pray like that before since only one percentage of Japanese people are Christian. "Kathu, you must be very tired," Mithuo said in a calm tone. "You should sleep here, and I will sleep in the other room. Good night." And with that, he was gone.

Kathu was very touched that Mithuo did not force her and respected her feelings. Having not slept much the night before, she went to sleep almost immediately, and a second later found herself sitting next to Aki in the dream world. "I want to go with you," Kathu said to Aki. "Please take me with you." Aki smiled. "You will be happy with your husband, Kathu. I always will be watching beside you. I know you are strong spiritually. He must be a good husband, Kathu, relax." Then she too was gone.

The next morning Kathu went to the kitchen and started breakfast. She opened the shoji as was her custom so she could enjoy the morning air. It was then that she saw her husband walking in the back yard. For the first time she looked at his face. An incredibly handsome man, Mithou was smiling and looked very happy. Kathu's smile blossomed just as Mithou noticed her at the window. Maybe Aki was right. Maybe she could find happiness with Mithou. Only time would tell. Perhaps now was the perfect moment to meet the man she'd married. Kathu beckoned her new husband into the house.

Author's Postscript:
This is the story of my parents, Mithuo and Kathu. My father died at the age of 87 and nine months later, at the age of 82, my mother, Kathu died. They were married for 52 years.

BIO: English is Ms. Bamba's second language; however, she enjoys writing in English and also in Japanese. Her English articles were published in RDH (registered dental hygiene) magazine and The Virginian Pilot. Her Japanese essays were published in Hyakumannin no Fukuin (100 million's gospel), a Japanese Christian magazine. Ms. Bamba resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is an active member of the Virginia Beach Writers' Association.