The Japanese culture is fascinating. It has an history which is rich with interesting legends. The Japanese culture is sometimes difficult to understand but it owns a lot of symbols that we explore on a regular basis.

When you evoke Japan, you mainly think of the beauty of the cherry trees (a love symbol), of its courageous samurais, of the discipline of martial arts, of the textile elegance, of the importance of daily life rituals such as the tea ceremony, the respect of nature in Taoism….

Through our rings, earrings and necklaces, we tried to bring you this magical Japan, on more particularly about the Japanese wedding theme.

Cherry blossom jewelry

The cherry trees are certainly one of the most beautiful images of Japan. When cherry trees blossom, the whole country wraps itself in a pink cloak.

The blossom show of the Japanese cherry tree that I witnessed a few years ago is celebrated during the Hanami. A lot of tourists are coming from all over the world for this occasion. The word Hanami could be translated by “looking at the flowers”. It is the opportunity to organize picnics under the cherry trees.

The cherry tree blossom occurs between the end of March and the beginning of April, and is quite short. The spectacle only lasts two weeks.

Just like many other persons, I can see this picture of pink flower petals swirling in the wind which is quite romantic.

The cherry blossom tree is an important symbol for the Japanese culture. It is called Sakura which reminds of the cherry tree but also of the cherry flower.

The cherry flower is a metaphore of life that is beautiful and short. It is a symbol of success, rebirth, ephemeral beauty and evolution.

This flower symbolizes the arrival of spring but also the renewal and the hope linked to this new season of abundance.

We used this Japanese cherry blossom pattern for different pieces of jewelry such as rings (or bands), earrings and bracelet so that you can show your love for the Japanese culture or for a Japanese wedding).

The crane in Japan

The crane is a revered bird in Japan so we had to show this love in our jewelry.

The crane can be found on numerous patterns in Japan and more particularly on engravings and fabrics. It is common to find the crane in Japanese houses in the form of a statuette or a simple origami.

The Japanese crane is one of the biggest bird in the world measuring around 1.5 metre high for 2.5 metres wide and weighing around 10 kilos.

This Japanese bird symbolizes longevity, happiness and luck. According to the legend, the crane would live a 1000 years and would take the souls to paradise.

The crane is also a symbol of fidelity because this bird would only choose one partner for its whole life. This is the reason why you can often find this animal embroidered on wedding kimonos (uchikake).

We paid tribute to the crane with a band called “The legend of the thousand cranes” or Senbazaru. This Japanese myth says that if you fold a thousand cranes origamis, your wish will come true. This wish has to be about longevity, health and happiness.

The Japanese fan

The fan is a picture of femininity and sensuality that you can find in Japan. It is generally delicately and intricately decorated. It is one of the inseparable element of the geisha an her famous elegance.

The oldest trace of the Japanese fan can be found in the mural paintings of a tumulus from Fukuoka dating back to the 6th century A.C.

Traditionally, you can find two types of fans: the “uchiwa” which is a fan in a round, oval or square shape with a fixed handle. The “sensu” or “ogi” is a foldable fan which was invented in the 7th century. A peasant would have been inspired by staring at the wings of a bat.

It has a great importance in the Japanese culture and it is used daily, especially for ceremonies (like the tea ceremony) but also like a weapon.

It was invented in Japan and then exported to Europe through China.

In our creations, you can find a version of the Japanese fan with the Han'I earrings. They are in the shape of a foldable fan and engraved with small details.

Koi: the Japanese fish

Japan is also known for its beautiful gardens. The green space in the house is always well organized, calm and soothing. You will also have a pond with one of the symbol of Japan: the koi fish.

The koi fish is a big fish coming from Asia. It is a fresh water fish who used to live in paddy fields. It is a popular ornamental fish because of the mix of colors it shows such as red, white, yellow or black. This animal is also calm and brings beauty and serenity to its owner.

It has an important place in the Japanese culture. Except in nature, you will often find it in art like on engravings, paintings, textiles and fans…

The koi fish was first mentioned during the 5th century B.C. It would have been brought to the Niigata province from China and Korea breedings.

It can reach 1 metre long and weigh up to 15 kilos. It could also reach the age of 20 years old (as an average) , but some of them reached 70 years of age.

In Japan, the koi fish is called “Nishikigoi” or “colorful fish”. They are bred as ornamental animals, especially in the village of Yamakoshi of which it is the symbol. At first, it was a simple black fish called Magoi. It was then the crossbreeding through the country which allowed the koi fish to be so colorful with an ornamental function and this from the 1800s.

The Japanese fish mainly symbolizes strength, courage and perseverance as they show it so well when they go up against the tide in cascades and rivers in Japan. But the koi fish also symbolizes success, serenity, love and virility.
In the Japanese tradition, it is common to offer envelopes decorated with a koi fish to students to wish them good luck for exams.

According to the legend, each year after the third moon, thousands of koi go up the yellow river from the sea. They courageously fight against the current to reach the cascade called the door of the dragon which is the most difficult test as the power of the water is really strong. Only the bests can reach the top of the casade after conquering predators, fishermen, the current strength and other numerous dangers. These koi fish are then entitled to be transformed into dragons with golden scales and soar towards the sky. This legend would thus explain the kites in the shape of koi that children fly in the sky.

We used the koi fish pattern for rings (for a Japanese wedding), earrings and a pendant.

The Japanese sea: wave jewelry

Japan is an island. And of course, the sea and the ocean are very important in the Japanese culture. It is an important source of food. The sea and the ocean can be designated by the same word in Japanese language “umi”. In the Japanese culture, water and waves represent power and resistance.

We chose two representations of the sea which are very famous pattern in Japan.

We selected the quiet sea with the Seigaiha pattern and the raging sea.

The Seigaiha pattern is quite common on Japanese fabrics. It is made of overlapping concentric circles. They look like a series of rainbows.

This name means “wave of the blue sea”. This design was used in the past to represent the seas and the oceans on ancient Chinese maps. It appears in Japan in the 6th century on kimonos, ceramics…

This repetitive pattern symbolizes the calm sea, peace, the quiet force and good fortune.

The second picture of the sea is the storm, when the sea is raging and shows its power. It is the sea represented by the big wave de Kanagawa of ukiyo-e, Hokusai, the indescribable strength of nature in front of the man's fragility.

Origami jewel: geometry and rigor

What would be Japan without origamis? Patience and dexterity are necessary for this fascinating paper art.

Origami is the art of folding paper. It would have appeared in China under the western Han dynasty (-202, -9). And then it would have arrived to Japan thanks to the Buddhist monks. It evolved very fast around 1200 A.C. thanks to Buddhist rituals. As paper was a rare material, this folding paper art was essentially reserved for ceremonies and more particularly for table decorations.

In order to pay tribute to this Japanese art, we created a ring called Origami. This is a band which geometric pattern reminds all the preparation phase of folding before the origami final result.

The ginkgo biloba: a beautiful Japanese leaf for jewelry

The leaf from the ginkgo biloba tree looks very delicate with its fan shape. You will find it in several of our creations.
It is also a strong symbol in Japan which could be called “the survivor”.

The ginkgo biloba tree is a sacred tree that is also called the Maidenhair Tree and the Tree of Forty Crowns. In Japanese language, the fruit is called Ginna and the tree Icho. This tree would be able to live 3000 years. Its leaves are cut in two lobes.

The ginkgo species would have appeared 270 million years ago during the Permian, that is to say before the dinosaurs. This is the reason why it is alsco called “the fossil tree”.
this tree species would have populated the whole earth until the quaternary glaciation. Following this intense cold period, only the ginkgo biloba variety would have survived in the south of China, where the climate was soft.
It would have been brought to Japan and Korea around the 12th century.

Apart from being “the survivor” of several vegetal species and of its own type, it is a very resistant tree, almost indestructible.
It would have been the first tree to grow again after the destruction of Hiroshima by the atomic bomb on the 6th of august of 1945. A tree which was located at less than a kilometer from the impact point is still alive and started to blossom just a year after the catastrophe, whereas all the other plants were dead.
the ginkgo bilobas is resistant to the lack of light, to diseases, to parasites, to pollution, to frost and lightnings…

In Japan, ginkgo almonds are used for digestion problems since 2000. It is also used to cure memory and reflexion problems for older people.

The ginkgo is the symbol of the city of Tokyo since 1989.

It is considered like immortal due to its longevity and the seniority of his species. It does not know any natural predator either. It therefore symbolizes longevity, unity, invariability, growth, prosperity, charm and tranquility.

Its leaf has two lobes symbolizing duality, separation, reconciliation, and paradox. This duality characteristic also makes it a love symbol.

The ginkgo tree is a maternity symbol in the Japanese culture. In the village of Awa, women who gave birth go to pray the birth god (in the shape of a ginkgo), to have enough maternal milk. When growing old, the ginkgo tree trunk shows outgrowths similar to cow pacifiers. The Japanese people call them Icho No Chichi which means “ginkgo nipples”. The lactating women go to cut and keep them as a lucky charm to have milk.

We created several rings, pendants and earrings to pay tribute to this Japanese symbol and to celebrate longevity and your loved ones with the two loves of the ginkgo leaf.

Rice, a symbol in our jewelry

When you think to Japan and its landscape, you quickly think to paddy fields on hills. Beyond this, it is also the basis of the Japanese diet.

Originally from China, rice arrived in Japan a long time ago. In the past, rice was used as money and was therefore a sign of wealth. This becomes less and less true as it is consumed a lot less and loses its worth.
However, rice is still a symbol of purity in Japan.

Our ring Ineko is a stylized pattern of rice if you are looking for a Japanese symbol of purity.

Asanoha : a hemp leaf lucky charm

The geometrical pattern called Asanoha dates back to the Japanese antiquity. The oldest traces appear on buddhas from the Heian era (between the 8th and the 12th centuries).

This name means “hemp leaves”. It represents a stylized hemp leaf and is represented ad infinitum.

The hemp leaf is represented by a six-pointed star. These six branches are in the shape of a diamond divided by two triangles.

The hemp symbolizes good growth, strength and resistance. It is therefore a symbol of good luck for the future. You can find this pattern on clothes or on children's diapers to wish them a good growth. You can also traditionally find it on kimonos as a sign of vitality, vigor and prosperity.

Kikkô: under the sign of the turtle longevity

The kikkô or Kikkoumon is a geometric pattern in a diamond shape. Juxtaposed, they look like a honeycomb with alveoli.

This pattern dates back to the Japanese middle-ages and is inspired by the hexagonal shape of the turtle scales. It would date back to the Heian period (from the 8th to the 12th century). It then became popular at the Edo period (17th to the 19th centuries).

In the Japanese tradition, the turtle is a good omen. Because of its long life, it is a symbol of longevity and luck.

This pattern was also used to make the samurai armors. They were made with small leather or metal hexagons sewn together.

There are several variations of the kikkô pattern that sometimes showed a pattern in the center of the hexagon: a flower, a circle, a diamond…

• The kikkô hanabishi shows a macre flower also called water chestnut. This pattern often appears as a samurai group crest and would symbolize righteousness.
• The bishamon kikkô shows 3 hexagons linked in the shape of a trefoil. Its shape is inspired by the armour of the bishamonten god who is one of the gods of war and richness. This pattern symbolizes protection.

Tachikawi: excelling

The word tachikawi or tatewaku means “rising steam”. It is made of two undulating lines referring to the steam rising to the sky. You can sometimes find a cloud sketched between the lines. That pattern is called kumotatewaku or of the chrysanthemums called kikutatewaku.

The drawing reminds of the mist that one can find on swamps, ponds or streams in spring.

This pattern is quite difficult to embroider and this is the reason why it was reserved for the kimonos of the Japanese elite since the Heian period (794-1185).

Just like the steam is slowly rising to the sky, this pattern symbolizes the elevation of the spirit and the capacity to brave the opposing elements. It is therefore a lucky charm pattern to elevate oneself and to defeat adversity.

Japanese wedding theme

Whatever your style, you will certainly find a model for your Japanese wedding: chic, discrete, zen, organized, refined or elegant. For a Japanese wedding, the best colors are teal ones, pink, purple or intense red.

Below, you will find some links to help you organize your Japanese wedding:

• Japanese Wedding Theme
• Japanese wedding themed ideas on pinterest
• Love In Blossom Japanese-Inspired Wedding
• Traditions | The Japanese Wedding
• Unique Wedding Ideas: Japanese Influenced Wedding Style, Inspiration + Ideas
• What to Expect at a Japanese Wedding

Now, you just have to determine which model suits your wedding. If you did not find anything matching your idea for your Japanese wedding, do not hesitate to contact us and ask us if we could make something according to your specific project.

Most of our rings can be made in different widths and thicknesses so that you can get matching wide an narrow wedding bands. However, if you would like a special width (that you do not see in our catalog) for one of our models, contact us to check if we can actually help you with your personalized request.

In the following list, you will find a recap of all our models for the Japanese theme:

The cherry blossom

this ring is a beautiful metaphor of life and symbolizes rebirth, success, evolution and hope linked to the new season.

	Sakura: sakura means “cherry blossom” in Japanese. This band is 10mm wide and shows a low-relief cherry blossom pattern
	Misao: misao means “fidelity” in Japanese. This band is 6mm wide and shows a low-relif cherry blossom pattern.
	Misaki: misaki means “beautiful tree flower” in Japanese. The band is 10mm wide and shows a high-relief cherry blossom pattern.

The crane

this Japanese bird symbolizes longevity, happiness, luck and fidelity.

Legend of the thousand cranes: this ring refers to the Japanese legend and is 12mm wide.

The koi fish

This Japanese fish symbolizes strength, courage, perseverance, success, peace, serenity, love and virility.

	Carp in a lotus pond: this Japanese ring shows koi fish swimming among plants including lotuses. It is 10mm wide
	Koi: this fish ring is 10mm wide.

The sea

Japan is an island so this symbol is very important in this culture. The sea and the waves can symbolize calmness or strength according to the pattern.

	The sea: this Japanese pattern ring shows a raging sea to express nature’s strength compare to the fragility of humans. This ring is 10mm wide.
	Hitomi: this Japanese pattern ring sows a wave pattern called Seigaiha. It symbolizes calm, peace, quiet strength and good fortune. This band is 10mm wide.
	Hitomi petite: this ring is identical to te previous one but narrower for a width of 4mm.

Origami

The art of folding paper, a symbol of dexterity, patience, delicacy, discipline and precision.

Origami: this Japanese ring with a geometric style evokes paper folding. It is 10mm wide.

The leaf of ginkgo biloba

This immortal tree symbolizes longevity, unity, invariability, growth, prosperity and tranquility. Its two lobes leaf evokes duality, separation, reconciliation and paradox. Its duality symbolizes love.

Ginkgo: this Japanese leaf ring is 10mm wide.

The rice

A symbol of purity and wealth in Japan.

Ineko: the name of this ring means “small rice shoot”. It shows stylized rice stems in as botanical and countryside style. It is 6mm wide.

The hemp leaf

Named asanoha, this motif is a lucky charm to wish for good development, good growth.

Asanoha: the name of this Japanese ring means "hemp leaf". It shows stylized, geometric, hemp flowers. It is 8 mm wide.

The turtle shell

this motif is called Kikkô, it represents the hexagon present on the turtle shell.It symbolizes longevity and luck.This drawing is present at the wedding to place the bride and groom under the auspices and longevity of the turtle.

	Kikkô: this ring shows hexagonal shapes depicting the turtle shell. The two-row pattern is 10mm wide.
	Kikko hanabishi: this ring shows hexagonal shapes depicting the turtle shell. The single line pattern is 6mm wide.

Rise to the sky

This pattern called Tachiwaki is formed by two wavy lines representing steam rising towards the sky.It evokes perseverance and the ability to surpass oneself in order to overcome adversity.

Tachiwaki: this ring is a variation of the classic pattern of wavy lines since it incorporates clouds in the center. It is 6 mm wide.