On Saturday, August 8th, a wave of wedding ceremonies, special discounts, and commemorative activities swept across Japan. This rare occurrence of “three eights” – the 8th day of the 8th month in the 8th year of the Reiwa era – holds special significance in traditional beliefs. The kanji character for “eight” symbolizes prosperity and abundance as it widens towards the bottom, making it an extremely auspicious omen.
Many couples flocked to local government offices throughout Japan on this symbolic day to register their marriages. Due to the wordplay between the pronunciation of the numbers and the Japanese word for “honey,” marriages registered on this day are affectionately called “honey weddings” or “hachimitsu-kon.”
In Tokyo’s major wards, long queues formed at municipal offices early in the morning:
In Koto Ward:
By 1 PM, 230 couples had registered for marriage, and the office gifted local honey to the newlyweds as a celebratory gesture.
In Ota Ward:
Around 100 couples lined up at the office window early in the morning, prompting the office to open for registrations at 9:30 AM.
In Sumida and Shinagawa Wards:
Similar crowds gathered to process marriage registrations, with Sumida Ward alone handling up to 300 scheduled couples on that day.
Newlyweds expressed their hopes and aspirations for the future – some wished for a sweet and prosperous life akin to honey, while others joked that the sound of “three eights” in Japanese resembles laughter, hoping to create a joyful household.
In addition to the marriage registration frenzy, businesses across Japan seized the opportunity presented by the “three eights” phenomenon to offer limited-time promotions:
The spaghetti chain “Spaghetti no Pancho” introduced the “Mega MAX,” an 888-gram portion of pasta priced at only 888 yen.
The takoyaki chain “Tsukiji Gindaco” offered a box of 8 octopus balls for a discounted price of 88 yen to the first 88 customers in line at selected stores.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike stated that marriage and childbirth are personal choices, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government aims to quietly support individuals pursuing these desires.
In celebration of the “honey weddings,” the Tokyo Metropolitan Government organized the “TOKYO Wedding Support Festival” at Azabudai Hill, inviting guests like former Japanese national football team player Yoichiro Kakitani, whose jersey number is 8, to share their experiences.
The Tokyo Waterfront City Fountain presented three exclusive 8-minute light shows on the evening of the festivities.
Local governments with a strong connection to the number “eight” joined in the celebrations:
In Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture:
Celebrations were held under the slogan “Ha, Ha, Ha, Hachinohe!”
In Kushima City, Miyazaki Prefecture:
As the only city in Japan with a postal code starting with 888, Kushima City hosted the “Kushima 888 Festival” and precisely conducted countdowns at 8:08:08 AM and PM.