Yukiko Hosomi and Kaz Williams, a lesbian couple, tied the knot at a once-unlikely place: a Buddhist temple.
As is the custom in Buddhist weddings, Hosomi, a 40-year-old Japanese woman residing in Britain, and Williams, a 51-year-old British resident, were clad in kimono. The ceremony was held in December 2012 at Shunkoin Temple in Kyoto.
"For same-sex couples, it is difficult to just live together," Hosomi said, speaking of the social obstacles to gay marriage. However, she said the wedding ceremony served to renew her resolve to overcome difficulties.