Japanese Man Spent $18,000 To Marry A Virtual Hologram

They say humans are becoming addicted to technology, but marriage is a new extreme. A Japanese man has just been wed to a singing hologram.

Akihiko Kondo, 35, just said his wedding vows to a singing hologram named Hatsune Miku that uses a voice synthesizer to perform in sold-out shows worldwide, according to “Inside Edition.” The character Miku is a generated figure that was created by synthesizing technologies. The figure people see when it performs is the image of a blue, 16-year-old girl with twin pigtails and in a schoolgirl outfit. Kondo’s family isn’t happy with the woman he chose; out of the 40 people who attended the ceremony, none of them were his family members. “For mother, it wasn’t something to celebrate,” Kondo told the Japan Times.

The entire wedding cost $18,000. His bride was present in the form of a stuffed doll toy. Kondo says his love for Miku is as pure as any other. “I never cheated on her; I’ve always been in love with Miku-san,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about her every day.” Miku resides with Kondo in his $2,800 home. “I’m in love with the whole concept of Hatsune Miku, but I got married to the Miku of my house,” he said.

While the marriage isn’t legitimate, the company that created Miku, Gatebox, has issued more than 3,700 marriage certificates to people who are in love with their holograms. Kondo’s parents still hope he will change his decision to marry a robot, but Kondo’s says there’s no chance, explaining that two-dimensional characters don’t cheat, age or die. “I’m not seeking these in real women. It’s impossible.”