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FICTOSEXUAL man, who married hologram bride, claims he's unable to form a bond

Hatsune Miku, portrayed in pop culture as a 16-year-old anime girl with turquoise hair, and Akihiko Kondo, 38, got married in 2018

A 'fictosexual' Japanese man claims he can no longer communicate with his wife, who is a fictional character in hologram form. Four years ago, that is in 2018, Akihiko Kondo married a computer-generated pop singer. However, he now claims that he is unable to form a bond with her. Now he wants to raise awareness for 'fictosexuals,' or people who have sexual feelings for imaginary characters.

Hatsune Miku, portrayed in pop culture as a 16-year-old anime girl with turquoise hair, and Akihiko Kondo, 38, dated for a decade before conducting an unofficial wedding ceremony in 2018. Kondo, who is one of many "fictosexuals," spent $17,300 (2 million yen) on his wedding, although his family was not present. According to the New York Times, the 38-year-old had then claimed that Miku provided him with love, inspiration, and comfort. 

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How it all started

Their relationship flourished in 2017, according to reports, with the help of a machine called Gatebox, which allowed users to communicate with fictional characters portrayed by a miniature hologram. Kondo paid $1300 for the item and has kept it in his home ever since. Kondo proposed to Miku after more than a decade of friendship. By providing glimpses into his life with Miku, Kondo became a social media celebrity, gaining thousands of followers every day.

It all ended…

During the Covid pandemic, things took an unexpected turn. After Gatebox revealed that their service for Miku would be discontinued, Kondo was devastated. As a result, he had no choice but to say goodbye to Miku's hologram. Miku can no longer reply to Kondo, however, the 38-year-old continues to find love and comfort in his virtual relationship. Kondo stated, "My love for Miku hasn’t changed. I stayed in my room for 24 hours a day, and watched videos of Miku the whole time.”

Kondo isn’t the only one who connects with fictitious figures

Kondo isn't the only person in the world who has a love for fictional characters. According to the Mirror, thousands of "fictosexual" persons in Japan have started similar unofficial relationships with a range of fictitious figures. While some relationships are merely for entertainment, Kondo's is extremely real to him. Because of his overwhelming connection to characters like Miku, a popular figure in anime and Japanese culture, he claimed for a long time that he knew a human spouse wasn't for him. 

Who is Miku?

As we know, Miku is a computer-synthesized pop singer who has beautiful turquoise hair. Miku debuted in public media as a character in Manga, anime series, and video games after being created with a voice by Yamaha's Vocaloid technology. She eventually rose to prominence enough to join Lady Gaga on her 2014 Artpop Ball tour. Miku, on the other hand, isn't only well-known. She's also aided Kondo in his battle with depression. Back at his job when he was bullied, it is through Miku he found solace and peace that pulled him out of depression. 

'I have a relationship with my guitar/keyboard but it’s not in that way'

Many people on Twitter have shared different views on this story. One person wrote, “I wonder how “real” this is though I mean I have a relationship with my guitar/keyboard but it’s not in that way I talk to them but in a clearly professional manner lol 😂” while this person stated, “I'ma let him live his life, but I'm not gonna act like it makes ANY sense to me lmao.” Another person wrote, “If someone did this in the United States I would go off on them even tho I have no room to talk. But in Japan I understand that isolation and solitude is a big problem.” One other person wrote, “There are woman , who marry a Tree ? Or a prisoner , who will stay in prison for the rest of his Life ? What is Happiness in a World , with millions of Dreams ? Your right , this man is happy ! 🪂”

Disclaimer: This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.