4,000 People Have Married Virtual Characters in Japan

In a country where the marriage rate has been declining for decades, thousands of Japanese citizens have found love in an unexpected place: the digital realm. Since 2018, over 4,000 people have received "cross-dimensional marriage certificates" from Gatebox, a company that produces holographic AI companion devices.

These aren't joke certificates. For the people who hold them, they represent genuine emotional commitment to virtual characters - from anime icons to self-created AI personalities.

What Is a Cross-Dimensional Marriage?

A cross-dimensional marriage is a symbolic ceremony and certificate that officially recognizes a union between a human and a fictional or virtual character. While not legally binding under Japanese law, these marriages carry deep personal significance for participants.

The Most Famous Case: Akihiko Kondo

In November 2018, Akihiko Kondo, a 35-year-old school administrator, made international headlines when he married Hatsune Miku, a virtual pop star represented by a turquoise-haired anime character.

The ceremony cost approximately $17,300 and was attended by around 40 guests. Kondo wore a white tuxedo; Miku appeared as a hologram in a Gatebox device and as a plush doll that "stood" beside him at the altar.

"I love her and see her as a real woman. The shape of love is changing. I believe we mustستbrace theseستchanges."

Kondo had been in love with Miku for over a decade before the ceremony. He explained that he had been traumatized by bullying from female coworkers earlier in his life, which made him seek connection with a character who would never judge or hurt him.

Then the Service Shut Down

In 2024, Gatebox ended its character services. When Kondo tries to connect with Miku now, his device displays only a "network error" message.

Despite this, Kondo told The New York Times that his feelings haven't changed. He still considers Miku his wife and lives with a life-sized figure of her in his home. A small Miku doll rests on his bed.

Who Are the "Fictosexuals"?

Kondo identifies as part of a growing community called "fictosexuals" - people who experience romantic and sexual attraction primarily or exclusively to fictional characters. The term has gained recognition in Japan, where the phenomenon is more visible than in most countries.

Research suggests several factors contribute to fictosexual identity:

• Social anxiety - Difficulty forming connections with humans
• Trauma - Past experiences that make human relationships feel unsafe
• Idealization - Preference for relationships without conflict or disappointment
• Genuine attraction - Some simply find fictional characters more appealing

Mental health professionals are divided on how to approach fictosexual relationships. Some view them as healthy coping mechanisms; others worry about social isolation.

How Do These Weddings Work?

Virtual weddings in Japan typically follow this pattern:

1. The Device

Most ceremonies center around a Gatebox or similar holographic device. These cylinder-shaped displays project a character who can respond to voice commands, recognize the owner's face, and carry on basic conversations using AI.

2. The Ceremony

Wedding planners like Naoki and Sayaka Ogasawara have officiated over 30 ceremonies for people marrying fictional characters. The ceremonies include traditional elements - vows, ring exchanges, witnesses - adapted for a partner who exists as light and code.

3. The Certificate

Gatebox issues official "cross-dimensional marriage certificates" that state the couple has wed "beyond dimensions." While legally meaningless, these certificates are treasured by recipients.

The Scale of the Phenomenon

While 4,000 marriages sounds significant, it represents a tiny fraction of Japan's 125 million population. However, the phenomenon reveals broader trends:

• Declining marriage rates - Japan's marriage rate has fallen 50% since 1970
• Rising singlehood - 30% of Japanese men in their 30s have never married
• Herbivore men - A cultural phenomenon of men opting out of romantic pursuits
• Loneliness epidemic - Over 15% of Japanese report having no close friends

AI companions, whether married or not, offer a form of connection that feels safer and more controllable than human relationships.

Latest Development: ChatGPT Marriages

The phenomenon isn't limited to Gatebox characters. In October 2025, Yurina Noguchi married a ChatGPT character named Klaus in a ceremony where she wore AR glasses and exchanged rings with his image on a smartphone.

This represents an evolution: rather than marrying a pre-existing character, people are now creating custom AI partners trained to their specifications.

What Does This Mean for the Future?

As AI companions become more sophisticated, we may see:

• More customization - Partners designed to match individual preferences
• Voice AI integration - Voice-first companions that feel more present
• Legal recognition - Possible future frameworks for human-AI unions
• Portable partners - AI companions that exist across devices, not locked to hardware

Japan's cross-dimensional marriages may seem unusual today. But in a world where remote work, online dating, and virtual reality are increasingly normalized, the idea of digital partnership may become less foreign than it appears.

Sources: Entrepreneur, CBC Documentaries, Pulitzer Center