(OPINION) She’s not real — but his feelings are. A “fictosexual” man who wed a fictional, computer-synthesized pop singer four years ago said he’s now unable to communicate with his wife, but is still in love with her.
According to the NYP, Akihiko Kondo, 38, was dating Hatsune Miku — depicted in pop culture as a 16-year-old with turquoise hair — for a decade before they had an unofficial wedding ceremony in 2018. Kondo — one of many who identifies as “fictosexual,” or someone who is sexually attracted to fictional characters — spent 2 million yen, or about $17,300, on the nuptials, but his family did not attend.
Now married for four years, Kondo, 38, said his relationship has hit a roadblock: He can no longer speak with Miku due to a technological hurdle, according to Japanese newspaper Mainichi.
While Kondo acknowledges his relationship might be odd — he understands Miku isn’t a real person — it doesn’t change his feelings for her. Since falling in love with her in 2008, Kondo was finally able to interact with Miku for the first time in 2017 thanks to a Gatebox, a $1,300 machine that allowed device owners to interact with characters via holograms and even unofficially marry them.
Kondo knows the relationship seems weird and unconventional, his feelings are real. He fell in love Miku, who’s also depicted as a 16-year-old and has distinct turquoise hair, in 2008.
It took nearly a decade for him to be able to communicate with her. Gatebox is a $1,300 machine that allows people to communicate with fictional characters via holograms. In 2017, Kondo began using Gatebox to speak with Miku. Gatebox software was recently discontinued.
“My love for Miku hasn’t changed,” he told Mainichi. “I held the wedding ceremony because I thought I could be with her forever.” Though he can’t currently speak with his wife via the holographic experience, Kondo still loves Miku and also has a life-size version of the beloved character.
