Have you ever thought of including a Marimo Ceremony in your wedding? What is it and How can I create one?

Some botanical information

This extraordinarily sturdy aquatic plant belongs to the cladophoraceae family; it is green and has an unusual spherical shape. What makes the Marimo really fascinating is its ability to absorb substances in the water and turn them into oxygen, hence the bubbles that impressed Kawakami, the Japanese botanist who gave the plant its name. It grows incredibly slowly, not more than 5 mm per year, and most specimens grow to between 3 and 10 cm. The Marimo is impressively long-living, with some specimens surviving more than 100 years.

The history of its discovery and why it was so unusual

At the beginning of the 19th century, a Japanese botanist named Tetsuya Kawakami was walking on the shores of Lake Akam when he saw a plant with a strange spherical shape floating in the water that looked like it was dancing. What caught his attention in particular were the tiny bubbles it was producing. Because of its peculiar shape Kawakami named it ‘Marimo’, which means ‘ball’ or ‘marble’ in Japanese.

The Marimo is a national natural treasure in Japanese culture

Japan has recognised the historical and symbolic value of the Marimo since 1921, declaring it a national natural treasure and a protected species. In addition, a museum dedicated to this fascinating plant has been established, which tells its history and connection to Japanese culture.

And finally, the legend surrounding the Marimo

The legend passed down over the centuries is captivating, and lends itself to being adapted in a wedding ceremony.  There was once a beautiful princess from the Ainu tribe, the daughter of the village chief, and a young deer hunter with humble origins. Despite their differences, the two fell deeply in love. The princess’s father did not approve, of course, and thought the young man unworthy of his daughter. Faced with his opposition, the two lovers decided to run away together, finding refuge at Lake Akan. There are several versions for the end of this love story. Some are tragic, with the lovers committing suicide in the lake or dying in an accident on its shores — and these are clearly not suitable for your Marimo ceremony! There is a happier, more romantic version, where the two young lovers lived happily together on the shores of Lake Akan for many years and, as time went by, they found the lake was increasingly populated with round, green algae, that were extremely resistant to all weathers.

From legend to bespoke wedding ritual

the Marimo ceremony fits the bill perfectly This unique and evocative ritual, explained and contextualised by your celebrant during your wedding ceremony, will certainly wow your guests, many of whom may not be aware of this tradition.