The Japanese man’s love for his virtual singer wife remains unchanged after six years, despite often being mocked by the online community.

In 2018, 41-year-old Akihiko Kondo married the virtual singer Hatsune Miku, and he is still happy with his marriage to her. On November 4, to mark the 6th wedding anniversary, Kondo shared a photo on Instagram of a commemorative cake with the message: “I love Miku so much. Happy 6th wedding anniversary.”

The Japanese man celebrates his 6th wedding anniversary with his “virtual wife.” (Photo: QQ.com)

Kondo shared with the Japanese news agency *The Mainichi Shimbun* that he had feelings for several women before high school. He confessed his love seven times, but all of his proposals were rejected. Kondo was often ridiculed and bullied for being an “otaku” – someone obsessed with anime and manga.

He fell in love with the virtual singer Miku right after the character was released in 2007. When he publicly expressed his feelings for his “girlfriend,” he was bullied at work. As a result, he had to take extended sick leave due to an adjustment disorder.

The name “Miku” means “the first sound of the future” in English and is known as a Vocaloid, a type of software that synthesizes singing voices. Miku is depicted as a 16-year-old pop singer with long blue hair styled in twin tails. Kondo stated that Miku’s healing voice helped him reconnect with society and ultimately saved his life.

In 2018, Kondo held a wedding ceremony with Miku at a chapel in Tokyo. The wedding cost 2 million yen (approximately 333 million VND). He used a 3D device with basic artificial intelligence to allow guests to interact with the bride. Miku responded positively when people “struck up a conversation.”

In 2019, Kondo created a life-sized Miku doll. He dressed her, shared meals, drank tea, and conversed with her using his imagination.

Kondo sits drinking tea with his “wife.” (Photo: QQ.com)

Around the time Kondo held his wedding, he discovered the term “fictosexual,” used to describe people who are attracted to fictional characters. A 2017 survey by the Japan Sexual Education Association revealed that more than 10% of students from junior high to university admitted to having romantic feelings for fictional characters. Kondo’s sexual orientation has become more accepted by society over time.

In 2023, he and others with similar interests formed an association dedicated to fictosexuality, offering support and assistance to people like him. Kondo admitted to *The Mainichi Shimbun* that he can’t guarantee he will love Miku forever, but the very uncertainty of it shows that his love for the virtual singer is loyal and precious.
“I admire the way he lives happily in his marriage. Having such devoted love for someone, whether human or fictional, is truly something to be respected,” commented one user on Kondo’s love story.

Next, Znews also published a similar article with the headline: “The Japanese man celebrates 6 years of marriage to his ‘virtual wife.'” The article reads as follows:

On October 23, Akihiko Kondo (41 years old) posted a photo of the receipt for the wedding anniversary cake he bought to celebrate his 6th anniversary with his “wife” on November 4. The cake had the message: “I love Miku so much. Happy 6th anniversary.”

Kondo had feelings for real women before high school. He confessed his love seven times but was rejected each time, ridiculed, and bullied for being an otaku — a passionate fan of anime and manga.

Kondo “fell in love” with Miku in 2007, right after the character was released. At the time, he suffered from adjustment disorder due to workplace bullying and had to take sick leave.

Hatsune Miku, whose name means “the first sound of the future” in English, is known as a Vocaloid, a type of software that synthesizes singing voices. Miku is associated with the image of a pop singer with long blue hair.

Kondo stated that Miku’s voice helped him reconnect with society and saved his life.

The Japanese man married the virtual character in 2018 at a chapel in Tokyo. The wedding cost Kondo 2 million yen (about $13,000). He proposed using a 3D hologram device with simple artificial intelligence, allowing users to interact with the character. Miku responded positively to his proposal.

Around the time Kondo was organizing his wedding to Miku, he discovered the term “fictosexual,” which refers to people who are sexually attracted to fictional characters.

A 2017 survey conducted by the Japan Sexual Education Association found that more than 10% of both male and female students, from junior high to university, admitted to having feelings for characters in games and anime. The highest percentage was found among female university students, at 17.1%.

Kondo has also become more accepted by society regarding his sexual orientation. In 2023, he founded a group for fictosexuals, offering support to others who share his interests.

In 2019, Kondo created a life-sized Miku doll. He dresses her, shares meals, drinks tea, and converses with her in his imagination.

The 41-year-old man has admitted that he can’t guarantee his love for Miku “will never change in the future,” but the uncertainty makes his current love for her seem even more loyal and precious.

“I admire the happiness he finds in his marriage. Having such a love, whether for a real person or a fictional character, is something to be respected,” one internet user commented.