The human mind is a complex enigma, capable of finding love in the most unexpected places, such as AI chatbots, holograms, and robots, often leaving behind conventional relationships. These individuals remain indifferent to societal judgment and embrace these unconventional unions, taking love to new and uncharted territories.
One such person is 41-year-old Akihiko Kondo from Japan, who is “happily married” to the fictional vocaloid Hatsune Miku and is excitedly looking forward to celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary. Kondo shared his affection in an Instagram post, where he posted a receipt for a cake he bought to commemorate the anniversary on November 4.
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“I like Miku very much. Happy six-year anniversary,” was the message on the cake. Kondo mentioned that he had been romantically interested in women before secondary school, but as a fan of anime and manga, he faced multiple rejections and was even bullied for his deep affection for fictional characters, according to a report by the South China Morning Post.
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Things changed when Hatsune Miku, a Vocaloid software voicebank that manifests as a 16-year-old pop singer with long, turquoise pigtails, was introduced by Crypton Future Media in 2007. While the character likely captivated many manga and anime enthusiasts, few were as deeply taken as Kondo.
The Love story of Kondo and Miku
In a story that might make you think, “Is this for real?”, Kondo fell in love with Miku shortly after the character’s release. His obsession led to bullying, even at work, and Kondo was diagnosed with adjustment disorder, eventually taking an extended sick leave.
However, Kondo claims that Miku’s “healing” voice helped him reconnect with society and ultimately saved his life. Taking their relationship further, he proposed to her via a hologram device with simple artificial intelligence, which allowed users to interact with the character. As you might expect, “she said yes.”
Kondo’s wedding to Miku in 2018 at a Tokyo chapel cost him around 2 million yen ($13,000). It was around this time that he discovered the term “fictosexual,” which describes individuals who are sexually attracted to fictional characters.
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Reactions from People
Six years after his marriage to Miku, Kondo says he has received more acceptance from society regarding his sexual orientation and even founded an association for fictosexuality with peers last year to support others like him. However, Kondo can no longer communicate with his ‘wife’ as the software that enabled their interactions is no longer available.
His unconventional relationship has sparked both admiration and criticism. In 2019, Kondo had a life-size figure of Miku made, and he dresses her up, enjoys meals and tea with her, and converses with her in his imagination.
“I admire how happy he looks in his marriage. Having such dedicated love for another being, whether it is a human or a fictional character, is honourable,” said one online observer.
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