403:, with Kondo saying he was encouraged by those messages. He also received negative comments, including death threats. Kondo said that his work environment deteriorated, and a senior colleague asked him to stop talking to the press. Conversely, he reports that younger people tended to react more positively; according to him, as he works at a school, the students celebrate the marriage. He said that some people messaged him about their own affections for anime characters. In interviews after the wedding, Kondo said he believes everyone experiences love differently and that diversity should be accepted. Crypton Future Media wrote a statement to
162:—people who have romantic attraction to fictional characters. In 2023, Kondo founded the General Incorporated Association of Fictosexuality to help the public's understanding of the subject. Sources have identified Kondo as a fighter for the rights and acceptance of fictosexuals; a professor described him as "a pioneer for the fictosexual movement". As of October 2023, Kondo is a public school administrator and lives in
40:
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278:, Kondo said: " lifted me up when I needed it the most. She kept me company and made me feel like I could regain control over my life". The character helped Kondo to get back to work and reconnect with society; Kondo said Hatsune Miku saved and healed him. After these events, Kondo started being devoted to Hatsune Miku. In 2015, he went to her Magical Mirai 2015 event at
396:, Hatsune Miku's trademark, which served as the bouquet. Taro Yamada gave a speech. Japanese law does not allow for marriage with fictional characters; as such, the marriage is not legally recognized. Kondo clarified in interviews that he specifically married his own Hatsune Miku, and that others could also marry Hatsune Miku if they wish.
459:
In June 2023, he founded the
General Incorporated Association of Fictosexuality to provide comfort to fictosexuals, hold meetings with people that have similar views, and improve the understanding of the subject by the public. As such, sources have identified him as someone who "fights for the rights
338:
Initially, Kondo was unsure of marrying
Hatsune Miku; Gatebox was a defining factor in his positive decision. He started looking for wedding venues. The first venue he had selected asked Kondo not to publicize the wedding online, fearing others would cancel their own weddings. Ultimately, Kondo chose
307:
that could react to basic greetings, though it had limitations regarding longer conversations. As part of
Gatebox's promotional campaign, users could sign up for unofficial marriage registrations with fictional characters. 3,708 people signed up for it, including Kondo. He obtained the device in
218:
After graduating from high school, Kondo started working at a junior high school as a clerical staffer. There, he experienced bullying by two women, one close to his age and another much older than him. Kondo said the women would ignore, offend, and humiliate him. He ended up experiencing a
183:. Kondo was first romantically interested in a fictional character when he was in fifth grade. In high school, he became interested in anime and joined a manga club. As a teenager, Kondo was attracted to real women, but he was rejected and criticized by them, and was bullied for being an
1287:"I founded the general incorporated association of fictosexuality. This is an organization whose main purpose is to promote understanding of fictosexuality, which is a sexual orientation that is attracted to fictional characters such as manga, anime, and games. I will do my best"
455:
to talk about his relationship. He has also done lectures elsewhere. In March 2020, Gatebox, responsible for
Hatsune Miku's hologram, was shut down; some newspapers called Kondo the "first digital widower". Despite this, Kondo said his love for the character did not change.
308:
March 2018. Kondo said that his life did not have "color" before receiving the device; being able to interact with
Hatsune Miku in the real world changed that. Kondo then asked the Hatsune Miku hologram if she would like to marry him; she responded positively.
271:
After finding out about
Hatsune Miku, Kondo began composing songs using the software and later purchased a stuffed toy of the character. During the two years he was out of work, he listened to Hatsune Miku's songs constantly. In an interview with
409:, clarifying that the company was not involved in the wedding. Commenting on it, they said: "We see this as one individual's way of expressing his appreciation for Hatsune Miku, and we respect that." Kondo and Hatsune Miku's honeymoon was in
195:, Kondo "confessed his love seven times" but was rejected every time. In the third year of high school, Kondo had more romantic attraction to fictional characters than humans, and decided he would not marry a real woman.
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In 2017, Japanese startup Vinclu announced
Gatebox, a device that allowed people to interact with fictional characters in the form of a small hologram; Hatsune Miku was one of the characters. The device had a simple
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in 2018 during a formal wedding ceremony. In high school, Kondo had an interest in real women, but he was rejected by them. Soon after, he decided he would not marry one. Later, Kondo was bullied at work and took
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In 2019, he commissioned a human-sized doll of
Hatsune Miku; he does activities like eating, reading, and watching movies with it. He also travels with it; he did so when he was invited to join a symposium at
392:—one he had bought in September 2010—wearing a hand-made white dress, while Kondo wore a pure white tuxedo. After kissing the doll, which he had never done before, they exchanged rings. Kondo also held
293:
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480:. As of October 2023, he is a public school administrator, living in a traditional Japanese two-room apartment in a discreet residential neighborhood in Tokyo. Kondo is a member of the
151:, including Hatsune Miku. This device further helped Kondo's decision to hold a wedding with the character. The marriage, which was unofficial, elicited mixed reactions from people.
237:
during that period. Kondo could not eat or sleep properly for around six months and, at one point, searched for "suicide" on the internet. During the leave, in 2007, he discovered
147:. During his leave, in 2007, Kondo discovered Hatsune Miku; this helped Kondo return to the workplace. In 2017, he purchased a Gatebox device that allowed people to interact with
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351:: it spells "Miku" in Japanese, with "mi" meaning three and "ku" nine. The people who attended were mostly strangers and people who found out about the wedding on
420:", which describes people who have romantic attraction to fictional characters. He identifies with that term. He said that, while not feeling like a part of the
355:; while he invited his family and co-workers, they did not attend, including his mother and sister. The wedding was attended by two Japanese politicians:
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that the venue had been chosen. The ceremony occurred on
November 4, 2018, and was attended by 39 people. This number was specifically chosen as a
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468:. Kondo hopes that "fictosexuals are not persecuted" and that all wedding venues will accept marriages with fictional characters in the future.
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Following the marriage, reactions were mixed. He was congratulated by friends and other fans of
Hatsune Miku on
464:, where he is a sociology of culture professor, described Kondo as "a pioneer for the fictosexual movement" to
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268:. Its persona is a fictional 16-year-old pop singer with large eyes and long, turquoise hair with pigtails.
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1181:[Despite Criticism, "It Gave Me Courage" – Ending the "Serious Wedding" with Hatsune Miku].
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and acceptance of fictosexuals"; Izumi Tsuji, secretary of the Japan Youth Study Group at
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for the first time after listening to the song "Miracle Paint", composed by
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Since then, Kondo has given lectures about his relationship, including at
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1013:"Geek bliss – Japanese man pledges to have, hold and cherish a hologram"
881:"AI love you: Japanese man not alone in 'marriage' to virtual character"
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1065:"This Man Married a Fictional Character. He'd Like You to Hear Him Out"
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436:"—"people who see technology as integral to their sexual identity", to
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is a Japanese man who is known for symbolically marrying the fictional
678:"Japanese man 'marries' virtual reality singer Hatsune Miku hologram"
1263:[Profile of Akihiko Kondo @ Loves Miku-san] (in Japanese).
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In the text, these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):
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563:"Japan: Man married to fictional character fights for rights"
965:"Akihiko Kondo, married to the virtual singer of his dreams"
623:"Man finds bliss after 'marrying' virtual idol Hatsune Miku"
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Japanese man known for symbolically marrying Hatsune Miku
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Sometime after the wedding, Kondo discovered the term "
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1117:"Beyond dimensions: The man who married a hologram"
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Association for Freedom of Entertainment Expression
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95:General Incorporated Association of Fictosexuality
1323:"Digital love: Why I 'married' a cartoon popstar"
1212:"Man, 35, reportedly marries computer hologram"
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179:Akihiko Kondo was born on May 31, 1983, in
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1210:Zwirz, Elizabeth (November 14, 2018).
1191:from the original on November 21, 2021
1179:"批判もあったが「勇気付けられた」 初音ミクさんとの"本気の挙式"を終えて"
1177:Katashibu, Yohei (November 21, 2018).
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793:"Why I 'married' a cartoon character"
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1011:Fabre, Olivier (November 14, 2018).
963:Robledo, Gonzalo (October 1, 2023).
879:Miyazaki, Toshiki (April 17, 2020).
736:Katashibu, Yohei (August 16, 2018).
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424:umbrella, he feels like a part of a
1339:from the original on April 21, 2024
1224:from the original on April 16, 2021
1115:Jozuka, Emiko (December 29, 2018).
750:from the original on April 19, 2021
738:"「愛しているので」 2次元キャラと"本気の挙式"、30代男性の葛藤"
686:. November 12, 2018. Archived from
1129:from the original on April 8, 2024
1077:from the original on July 10, 2023
1025:from the original on April 8, 2024
977:from the original on April 8, 2024
893:from the original on April 6, 2024
847:from the original on April 6, 2024
635:from the original on April 6, 2024
575:from the original on April 6, 2024
516:Attributed to multiple references:
507:Attributed to multiple references:
14:
1285:Kondo, Akihiko (June 29, 2023).
260:. Hatsune Miku is a world-famous
223:. He saw a psychiatrist and took
919:Obuno, Yuka (January 11, 2022).
621:Kazuyuki, Ito (May 18, 2023).
1:
1261:"近藤 顕彦 @ ミクさん大好きさんのプロフィールページ"
158:. He has since identified as
833:Obuno, Yuka (July 1, 2023).
231:. He described himself as a
289:Hatsune Miku VR Future Live
175:Early life and Hatsune Miku
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87:Public school administrator
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1436:Komazawa University alumni
44:Kondo and his wife in 2023
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305:artificial intelligence
430:University of Manitoba
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103:Symbolically marrying
1441:Free speech activists
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366:, assembly member of
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690:on November 12, 2018
266:Crypton Future Media
128:, born May 31, 1983)
801:. August 16, 2019.
478:Komazawa University
383:House of Councilors
332:House of Councilors
229:adjustment disorder
78:Komazawa University
1314:Additional sources
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1431:Hatsune Miku
1341:. Retrieved
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1268:. Retrieved
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1226:. Retrieved
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886:The Mainichi
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840:The Mainichi
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688:the original
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446:Post-wedding
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357:Minoru Oginu
337:
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239:Hatsune Miku
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204:Hatsune Miku
192:The Mainichi
190:
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136:Hatsune Miku
112:
111:
105:Hatsune Miku
92:Organization
67:Tokyo, Japan
60:May 31, 1983
18:
1446:1983 births
485: [
418:fictosexual
390:stuffed toy
375: [
372:Taro Yamada
360: [
324: [
321:Taro Yamada
292: [
246: [
210:) during a
160:fictosexual
1415:Categories
524:References
434:digisexual
252:, through
234:hikikomori
225:sick leave
212:sick leave
145:depression
141:sick leave
134:character
84:Occupation
56:1983-05-31
1388:Instagram
1343:April 21,
809:April 21,
170:Biography
149:holograms
74:Education
1379:Facebook
1337:Archived
1297:April 8,
1270:April 8,
1228:April 8,
1222:Archived
1217:Fox News
1195:April 6,
1189:Archived
1133:April 6,
1127:Archived
1081:April 8,
1075:Archived
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1023:Archived
981:April 6,
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891:Archived
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845:Archived
803:Archived
754:April 6,
748:Archived
694:April 6,
639:April 6,
633:Archived
579:April 6,
573:Archived
406:Fox News
286:to play
262:Vocaloid
258:Niconico
214:in 2007.
132:Vocaloid
1406:Twitter
1328:Outlook
1303:Twitter
1184:ITmedia
1018:Reuters
970:El País
743:ITmedia
411:Sapporo
401:Twitter
353:Twitter
345:Twitter
312:Wedding
254:YouTube
143:due to
1397:TikTok
370:, and
1370:Ameba
1291:Tweet
1265:Ameba
495:Notes
489:]
394:leeks
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186:otaku
181:Tokyo
164:Tokyo
1345:2024
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641:2024
581:2024
422:LGBT
256:and
119:近藤顕彦
50:Born
32:近藤顕彦
1404:on
1395:on
1386:on
1377:on
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1122:CNN
798:BBC
439:CNN
368:Ōta
275:CNN
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