Marriage, Marry

Interesting Fact

A Japanese marriage proposal is often called プロポーズ (puropōzu) today, but traditional expressions could be much more indirect. Historically, marriage negotiations often involved 仲人 (nakōdo)—a go-between who helped connect families and arrange a marriage. Instead of two people simply deciding to marry and announcing it, the process could involve families, introductions, negotiations, and formal meetings. The nakōdo role became especially important in arranged-marriage traditions known as お見合い (omiai).