This week, New York’s Grand Central Terminal will become a sliver of the Far East when the Japanese government sponsors the fourth annual Japan Week event in Vanderbilt Hall.
One lucky couple will also receive a romantic Japanese getaway as part of the festivities. Brittany Boccio and Theresa Hittel were chosen out of over 130 couples to participate in the wedding kimono fitting and photo shoot, where they’ll be trying on luxury Watabe kimonos worth more than $10,000. They, along with two other couples, will have a day during Japan Week where they have their fittings followed by a photo shoot in front of Grand Central’s iconic clock. After Japan Week ends, one of the couples will be voted on to win a honeymoon-esque trip to Japan.
Boccio and Hittel met in 2008 because of a shared love of Japanese music. “We immediately felt a connection,” Boccio says, “for three years we chased each other.” The two have spent time together during Japan-themed events in the city before this year’s Japan week, still going to see bands together and dressing up for Japan Day in Central Park. “Japan has always had a special place in our heart, and to be able to explore the culture, catch a show and try different food would be a dream come true for us," Boccio explains. "No matter what, we have the Japanese culture to thank for bringing two soulmates together.”
Japan Week runs from February 18 to 20 in Grand Central’s Vanderbilt Hall and will feature a Japanese food court, chef and author appearances, and chances to win trips to Japan.
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