Japan's 'divorce ceremony' gaining popularity

With divorce still common among Japanese couples, some pairs are looking to split in a more amicable way.

A Japanese couple, who do not want to be named and call themselves Mr and Mrs Fujii, have joined hands in a reverse ceremony to celebrate their decision to divorce with family and friends.

The parting couple met near Sensoji Temple in Tokyo's traditional Asakusa area on Sunday and rode in separate rickshaws to the "Divorce Mansion," which was opened last year.

"By putting an end to our marriage, we wanted to give ourselves fresh starts and give our lives a sense of renewal," Mr. Fujii, a 33-year-old businessman said as he rode on a rickshaw to the divorce ceremony.

He said he feels responsible for the failure of his marriage as he spent too much time away from home and spent too much money on his various interests including cars, despite numerous warnings from his wife. Friends and family of the couple, who were all on foot, followed closely behind on their journey to the "Divorce Mansion."

Once they arrived, the couple stood before guests and listened to the event organiser summarise the circumstances, which led up to their decision to part ways.

The ceremony ended with a "last act of cooperation" between the couple. Together they smashed their wedding ring with a gavel in their last official act as a couple.

This gesture is supposed to mimic the common cake-cutting ritual, which is often performed by couples who have just tied the knot, but here, it signifies the end of a partnership instead of the beginning.