Quick Answer
What is san-san-kudo?
San-san-kudo, literally "three-three, nine times," is the ceremonial exchange of sake at a Shinto wedding: the bride and groom each take three sips from three flat, graduated cups, for nine sips total. It is the ritual moment that formally binds the couple and their two families together.
Last updated:
Last updated:
What is san-san-kudo?
Also called: sansankudo, three-three-nine-times, the sake cup ceremony.
San-san-kudo is the centerpiece of a traditional Shinto wedding ceremony — three cups, three sips each, nine sips in total, and by the end the couple is considered married in the eyes of the kami and both families. It is quiet and precise rather than showy, but it carries the same symbolic weight as vows or a ring exchange in a Western ceremony.
How the san-san-kudo ritual works
The couple is presented with three sakazuki (flat lacquered or ceramic cups) of increasing size, filled with sake by shrine attendants. The groom drinks three sips from the smallest cup, followed by the bride; they repeat with the middle cup, then the largest — nine sips between them altogether. Numerology matters here: odd numbers are considered auspicious in Japanese tradition, and three and nine are both lucky.
- •The three sips per cup are usually small — the ritual is symbolic, not a real drinking exercise.
- •Some ceremonies extend the ritual so both sets of parents also share a cup, symbolically joining the two families rather than just the couple.
- •The officiating Shinto priest (kannushi) or shrine maidens (miko) typically pour and present the cups.
Planning notes
- •This ritual takes only a few minutes but is one of the most photographed moments of a Shinto ceremony — brief photographers on the sequence and seating angles in advance.
- •Confirm with the shrine or venue whether non-alcoholic sake substitutes are available if any participant does not drink alcohol.
- •If both sets of parents are included in the cup-sharing, build a little extra time into the ceremony schedule.
Keep every ceremony moment on one shared timeline
Weddingkart lets you share the exact ceremony run-of-show with photographers, family and vendors so no ritual moment gets missed.
See WhatsApp announcements →Frequently Asked Questions
What does san-san-kudo mean?
Literally "three-three, nine times" — three sips each from three cups, nine sips total between the bride and groom, a number combination considered auspicious in Japanese tradition.
Is san-san-kudo only performed at Shinto ceremonies?
It is most closely associated with Shinto shrine weddings, though some couples having a secular or hotel ceremony choose to include a version of it as a nod to tradition.
Do guests participate in san-san-kudo?
No — it is performed by the bride and groom only, sometimes extended to include both sets of parents, but it is not a guest-wide toast.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated