On the appointed day a messenger, a trusted friend or servant of the young man’s family, calls on the girl’s father and makes a formal proposal, bringing at the same time a present of silk dresses, an _obi_, fish, and _sake_; the father accepts the present and gives a receipt for it. This acceptance constitutes the consent to the marriage. He also makes a present to the other family. Soon after, he invites his relatives and intimate friends to a dinner, at which he announces the betrothal of his daughter. Preparations are then made forthwith for the wedding; and when they are completed, another gathering of relatives and friends with their wives takes place and the dresses and other requisite articles for the marriage are exhibited; and the meeting, especially the female section of it, criticise and offer advice if necessary on these preparations. Now all is complete; and an auspicious day has been fixed for the wedding. The bride’s property is sent on to the bridegroom’s a day or two previously. It consists of chests of drawers and several boxes containing her dresses, bedding, toilet articles, various utensils needed for tea-making and flower arrangement, a _koto_, and work-boxes, and sometimes even kitchen utensils. In the evening she leaves her father’s home. Formerly she went in a palanquin; but now she is conveyed in a jinrikisha or carriage. She is accompanied by friends and relatives. She is dressed in white or some other light colour. In the country a bonfire is lighted at the door, and she is escorted by torchlight; but in the city only lanterns are carried.