In a world increasingly succumb to technology, the line between the virtual and the real blurs more each day.
Such was the case for Tokyo resident Akihiko Kondo, whose love story with a holographic character, Hatsune Miku, caught global attention.
The relationship took to the news when one individual found themselves in a relationship with a fictional character and not just that, also marrying her.
In 2019, Kondo held a 'getting married' ceremony with his beloved Hatsune Miku - a virtual singer known for her appearances in video games and even touring with Lady Gaga.
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Though the marriage does not hold any legal standing, Kondo wasn't bothered.
Unfortunately, the software support enabling their interactions is no longer available, meaning that Kondo can no longer communicate with his virtual wife.
The company that developed the service stated that they terminated the 'limited production model' in March 2020.
Growing up, Kondo admitted to having difficult encounters with women in the dating world ended in a nervous breakdown, vowing never to marry. Kondo admitted that he formed the relationship with the hologram after he was 'bullied at work and took a leave of absence.'
However, he stated on his Instagram in 2022 that since meeting her, he was 'able to return to work. She saved me.'
After discovering that the communication between his partner would be cut off, Kondo said: 'My love for Miku has not changed. I held the wedding ceremony because I thought that I could be with her forever.'
Nevertheless, Kondo is hopeful that the software change is not permanent. And at some point in the near future, he will be able to communicate with her again.
At present, the married man shares his life with a life-size model of Hatsune Miku.
The hologram was created by Gatebox - a company that develops devices of holographic characters - and has sold more than 3,700 certificates for 'cross-dimension' marriages, according to Kondo.
Kondo's story fits into this idea of fictosexuality, where individuals feel a deep emotional connection to fictional characters.
While many people might have crushes on made-up characters, fictosexuals take it a step further and tend to experience sexual attraction as well.
With the rise of AI chatbots, the metaverse, and other digital environments, stories like Kondo's might become less uncommon.
These platforms make it easy for people to form connections that feel real and intimate, so we could find that the sci-fi movie HER might just shift from fiction to something we can relate to in real life.