Marriage is one of the most important events of a person’s life and almost each one of us is quite careful when it comes to taking a decision regarding marriage. But have you come across a person who is married to a fictional character? Even more amazingly, he has spent a huge amount in getting married to that fictional character and if this is not enough, he also celebrates his wedding anniversary every year.
Yes, you read that right! We are talking about a Japanese man who got hitched to a fictional character in 2018 and he has celebrated his sixth wedding anniversary this year. Akihiko Kondo, a 41 years old man, tied the knot with Hatsune Miku, a vocaloid represented as a 16 years old pop singer with striking blue ponytails, on November 4 six years ago.
Kondo took to Instagram to share a photo of an anniversary cake, adorned with the message, “I like Miku very much. Happy six-year anniversary.”
In interviews with Japanese media, Kondo revealed that he had previously been interested in women but faced rejection seven times after confessing his feelings. He also shared that he was bullied for his passion for anime and manga.
Kondo fell in love with Miku when her character was launched as a vocaloid in 2007. After enduring bullying at work, he was diagnosed with adjustment disorder, which manifests as severe emotional and behavioural symptoms which occur after a stressful event. He credited Miku’s soothing voice for helping him in reconnecting with the society, claiming it saved his life. Consequently in 2018, he held a wedding ceremony at a Tokyo chapel, spending 2 million yen (approximately $13,000) to marry her.
Kondo proposed to Miku using a hologram device that allowed interaction with the character and she accepted his proposal. Shortly after, he learned about the term “fictos*xual” which refers to individuals who are romantically or s*xually attracted to fictional characters and he began to identify as one.
A survey conducted by the Japanese Association for S*x Education found that over 10% of students in schools and universities reported having romantic feelings for fictional characters. To promote acceptance of his s*xual orientation, Kondo established an association for fictos*xuality with peers last year, aiming to support others like him.
To have Miku physically present in his life, Kondo commissioned a life-size doll of her that he dresses up and shares meals and tea with while enjoying conversations. However, he acknowledges that he does not believe his relationship with Miku will last forever.
What is your take on this matter?
