A man from Japan who married a hologram of a popular fictional character was reportedly blocked from talking with his wife for the following years.
The Japanese man named Akihiko Kondo first gained the world's attention after meeting the J-pop virtual idol Hatsune Miku in 2008. The individual was said to have experienced instances of bullying at his work and turned to the hologram company for emotional support.
Unusual Relationship Between Man and Hologram Ends
TOKYO, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 11: Akihiko Kondo stares at 'Hatsune Miku' before bed at his house on September 11, 2018, in Tokyo, Japan. Akihiko Kondo, a 35-year-old school clerk, living in Tokyo, recently announced his plans to marry 'Hatsune Miku,' the two-dimensional virtual idol, on the 4th of November, 2018, after having been in love with her for ten years. He plays with the 'Gatebox' every day, a home AI communication device designed to let users live with their favorite virtual characters.
Hatsune Miku is a fictional character that became mainstream in Asia and other parts of the globe. The synthesized hologram singer even toured with some famous modern performers and even starred in many multimedia programs and games.
In 2017, Kondo took his relationship to the next level after an innovation called Gatebox was introduced to the market. The machine allows anyone to interact with specific characters programmed into the system and projects holograms for real-world people to see the function's figures and physical features, UNILAD reports.
Kondo invested in buying the $1,300 machine and eventually obtained one. After ten years of being accompanied by Hatsune Miku, Kondo decided to marry the hologram.
However, the process was challenging, as many of the man's family and colleagues did not accept the setup introduced by Kondo. On the other hand, Strangers from online made it to the ceremony, filling almost 40 spots on the guest list.
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Hatsune Miku's Gatebox Support Discontinued
Hatsune Miku's presence allowed him to be part of modern-day pop culture. With the event orchestrated by Kondo, many people in the then-growing online community followed the unusual love story up to this date.
Unfortunately, their chapter might end soon due to the announcement relayed by the Gatebox developers. During the pandemic surge, the company said that it would no longer continue the service for Hatsune Miku.
Due to the uncontrollable situation, Kondo was forced to let go of his hologram wife. Following the announcement, the machine replaced the digital figure with the words 'network error,' The New York Times reported.
According to a statement, the Gatebox company's limited production model has already run its course.
Kondo still offers time and effort to connect with the figures of Hatsune Miku remaining in his possessions. The man now depends on the Images and dolls of the fictional character for emotional connection due to the absence of the chat and receive features brought by the device.
In the NYT report, the 38-year-old explained that he acknowledges how other people think of his bizarre relationship. But even though Hatsune Miku is just a figment of imagination, Kondo reiterates that his emotions are only reserved for the character alone.
Futurism reports that Kondo most likely is among the few individuals associated with being fictosexuals. This group is people who rely on an emotional connection with fictional characters and marry them unofficially.
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