A Japanese man who married a hologram has admitted he’s struggling to connect with his new wife. Akihiko Kondo, 38, identifies as a “fictosexual” and married a computer-synthesized fictional pop singer four years ago but has been disappointed with their relationship. However, he insists that he’s still in love with her.
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- Kondo began dating Hatsune Miku more than a decade ago. Miku, who’s depicted as a 16-year-old with turquoise hair, became Kondo’s wife in a $17,300 wedding ceremony in 2018, though his family didn’t attend the ceremony.
- He can no longer speak to his wife. Kondo told Japanese newspaper Mainichi that he’s struggling to connect with Miku because of a “technological hurdle.” As it turns out, Gatebox, a $1,300 machine that allows owners to communicate with characters via holograms, has now been discontinued, meaning Kondo can no longer get in touch with Miku.
- Kondo insists he still loves his wife. “My love for Miku hasn’t changed,” he said. “I held the wedding ceremony because I thought I could be with her forever.” Because he can no longer chat with Miku via Gatebox, he now carries around a life-sized doll version of his wife.
- He always knew he would marry a fictional character. While some people think it must be a joke, Kondo is very serious about his relationship with Miku. He says he always knew he would never have a human partner because he was always so intensely attracted to fictional characters.
- Miku helped Kondo with his mental health. Part of the reason he loves his wife so much is because of how much she cheered him up in his darkest hours. “I stayed in my room for 24 hours a day, and watched videos of Miku the whole time,” he recalled of his period of depression in 2008. Hopefully they’re able to find a way over their relationship hurdles!
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