San san kudo is one of the oldest wedding ceremonial traditions in Japan.  It started in the early Edo Period and is literally translated as “three- three- nine- times”.  

This is a formal and ritualized custom of drinking of a small amount of sake to bind the man and women in marriage.  There is a specific cup used to drink sake during this ceremony called sakazuki.  This special cup is only used to drink sake and no other beverages.  

The sakazuki contain a set of three different size cups stacked up on top of the other.  The top cup represents heaven, the middle one earth, and the bottom one represents humankind.  The bride and the groom take turns sipping three times from each cup.  By the time that they are finished, they have sipped sake three times from each of the three cups, with the total being nine times.  Hence, the name of the ritual, San san kudo or “three- three- nine- times”.  Odd numbers are very promising in Japan and in particular, the number three.  Nine is the most extreme lucky odd number, being three times three.