Love in a cabbage field

In the cabbage fields of Tsumagoi in Gunma prefecture, about 20 loving hubbies gathered to scream out messages of love to their wives. It was an event called “Kyabetsu Batake no Chushin de Ai O Sakebu” (“Shouting love in the center of a cabbage field.”), a pun on Kyoichi Katayama’s best-selling novel, “Sekai no Chushin de Ai O Sakebu” (“Shouting love in the center of the world”).

From the Mainichi News:

Tsumagoi, known as a cabbage-producing district, literally means “loving wife” in Japanese. Legend has it that it took the name after Prince Yamatotakeru, a famous hero of ancient Japan, announced, “I love my wife,” in the village.

Yasunobu Suga, 46, who roared his heart out in more ways than one for his beloved Hiromi, also 46, was happy with the event. “I felt great because I could shout out my message without being embarrassed,” he said.

Like most husbands (I hope), I often tell Mami I love her, so I don’t feel the need to scream it out loud as if I’ve been bottling it up for years. Don’t get me wrong, I think those husbands who took the time to go to the cabbage event are a rare breed in Japan and hopefully the media attention will encourage more husbands to follow suit.

The story reminded me of when I proposed to Mami. At the time, we were “Kechi-Level Red” (code we use for “extremely low on funds”), so there was no nice restaurant, boat cruise or hotel suite. Instead, I took her to Meiji Mura – a local theme park based on buildings from the Japanese Meiji era.

It was one of those days when it would be glorious sunshine one moment and be snowing the next. I really wanted to surprise Mami, but I had previously asked her mum for permission and she had tipped Mami off about the upcoming proposal. Even still, she didn’t know when it would come.

Amidst light snowfall, we climbed the tower of a Meiji period bank, to the highest point at the park, and with a view of mountains, a lake and historic buildings, I got down on one knee (very un-Japanese) and asked if she’d marry me.

Being prepared for either a positive or negative response, I was wearing my “Maji de?” or “Are you serious?” t-shirt under my jacket. After a moment of hesistation, she agreed to be my wife, and I unvailed the t-shirt to which she burst out laughing. The rest of the day was spent riding penny-farthing bicycles and being pulled around by horse and cart.

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