1-in-4 Conceived Out of Wedlock

I have attended more than 900 weddings in Japan.

Nope…I don't have a lot of friends and nope, I haven't become a 'kekkon binbo' – lost a lot of money on the weddings I attended by buying gifts.

I can speak Japanese and I am an ordained minister. Consequently, I was asked to officiate at the weddings of Japanese who wanted to get married western style or in a chapel wedding.

I offered counseling and felt pretty good that so many people wanted me to marry them…until I asked why.

Thinking that the couples wanted to do something pure, have God involved, hear my words of wisdom, I asked them why they wanted to have their wedding in a chapel.

One after the other replied, "The wedding dress will hide my pregnant tummy."

Huh!?

Yup…the number one reason was the couples had done the deed, she had gotten pregnant indicating it was time to tie the knot. A kimono would constrict the tummy by the time the wedding date rolled around but a wedding dress, wide and flowing would conceal it.

In 1980, 12.6% of Japanese babies were conceived out of wedlock. It's more than double that now – 27% of

firstborn Japanese babies were conceived before the couples made their marriage vows.

My opinion – Japanese men are too shy to ask their partners to marry…getting her pregnant is their way of saying, 'it's time.'

Were you conceived before your parents got married?