1.
matchmaker; go-between; wedding sponsor
A person who acts as an intermediary in arranging a marriage, and who traditionally serves as a ceremonial sponsor at the wedding. In traditional Japanese weddings, the matchmaker couple sits in a place of honor and assists throughout the ceremony.
媒酌人を頼む。
To ask someone to be the matchmaker.
上司に媒酌人をお願いした。
We asked our boss to serve as the go-between.
最近は媒酌人を立てない結婚式が増えている。
Recently, weddings without a go-between have become more common.
Composed of 媒酌 (mediation; matchmaking) and 人 (person). The 媒酌人 traditionally plays two roles: arranging the match (見合い) and presiding over the wedding ceremony as a respected sponsor.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 媒酌人を立てる: to have a go-between (at a wedding)
- 媒酌人を頼む: to ask someone to be the matchmaker
- 媒酌人の挨拶: matchmaker's speech (at the wedding)
- 媒酌人夫妻: the matchmaker couple
CULTURAL NOTE:
The role of 媒酌人 has declined significantly in modern Japan. In the past, most marriages were 見合い (arranged), and a 媒酌人 was essential. Even as love marriages (恋愛結婚) became the norm, couples sometimes asked a senior figure to serve as ceremonial 媒酌人. Today, many weddings omit this role entirely.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 仲人: matchmaker; go-between — largely synonymous, but 仲人 is the more common everyday term
- 世話役: coordinator; organizer — broader term for someone who helps arrange things, not limited to weddings