- Title: Japanese men shout their love ahead of "Beloved Wife" Day
- Date: 25th January 2017
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JANUARY 25, 2017) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PARTICIPANT WALKING ON TO STAGE PARTICIPANT SHOUTING (Japanese): "YUKARI, THANK YOU FOR TAKING CARE OF HOUSEHOLD CHORES SINCE WE GOT MARRIED, I LOVE YOU AND I WANT TO KISS YOU. I'LL COME HOME EARLY TONIGHT!" PARTICIPANT WALKING ON STAGE PARTICIPANT SHOUTING (Japanese): "ASUKA THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS COOKING BREAKFAST FOR ME. LET'S MAKE MORE MEMORIES TOGETHER! I'LL MAKE SURE TO MAKE YOU HAPPY! I LOVE YOU!" PARTICIPANT WALKING ON STAGE PARTICIPANT SHOUTING (Japanese): "MEGUMI, I'M SORRY FOR ALWAYS STAYING OUT LATE TO DRINK. EVERY YEAR ON JANUARY 31ST I'LL MAKE SURE I COME HOME EARLY. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AFTER THE KIDS. I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER!" (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) PARTICIPANT, HIROSHI WAKAMATSU, SAYING: "It reminded me of my love for my wife and I'll make sure to cherish her." STAGE DECORATIONS PARTICIPANT WALKING ON TO STAGE PARTICIPANT SHOUTING (Japanese): "I LOVE YOU!" FLOWERS ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) PARTICIPANT, NAMITO ICHIKAWA, SAYING: "It feels great. I was able to express how I feel. She isn't here but it's great." STAGE DECORATIONS
- Embargoed: 8th February 2017 11:34
- Keywords: Valetines day Japan Husband Wife Shout
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA00160KVWW5
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PART AUDIO AS INCOMING
Love was in the air in a Tokyo park on Wednesday (January 25) as normally staid Japanese husbands gathered to scream out their feelings for their wives, promising eternal love and an early return home from work.
The 10 men who were gathered in Hibiya park in downtown Tokyo were doing this ahead of "Beloved Wife" day on January 31.
"Yukari, thank you for taking care of household chores since we got married, I love you and I want to kiss you. I'll come home early tonight!", went one declaration.
"It reminded me of my love for my wife and I'll make sure to cherish her," said Hiroshi Wakamatsu who apologised on stage to his wife for often staying out late at night.
Although some might feel embarrassed shouting their love for their wives, Namito Ichikawa said felt no shame.
"It feels great. I was able to express how I feel. She isn't here but it's great," said Ichikawa.
The idea for the event came from a Tokyo flower shop which hoped to encourage Japanese men to express their emotions more freely.
January 31 is now known as "Beloved Wife" day or "Aisai" which is a play on the words for 1 and 31. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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