Is Fictosexual A Paradigm Of Hyper Loneliness Our Society Is Facing?

The complex labyrinth that the human mind is, is unpredictable. We have humans falling in love with everything: AI, Robots and now Fictional Characters! Traditional relationships no longer are the only option for leading a fulfilled life.

Who are fictosexuals?

A fictosexual is someone who is romantically or sexually attracted to fictional characters rather than real people. This attraction can range from affection for characters in books, movies, games, or other media. The term may seem new but it is as old as the dawn of time. Since the inception of writings, individuals have experienced this process to a certain extent, for example, many Russians self-proclaimed to be in love with Natasha Rostova, the heroine of War and Peace. 

Story of Akihiko Kondo

This has a new addition: A Japanese guy who married the fictitious vocaloid Hatsune Miku in 2018 is still happily married and looking forward to their sixth anniversary. Kondo said he had been romantically interested in women before secondary school, but the anime and manga-lover faced several rejections and was even bullied for his obsession with fictional characters, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. 

Kondo says Miku’s “healing" voice helped him reconnect with society and saved his life. He took the next step in the relationship – by proposing to her through a hologram device with simple artificial intelligence that allowed users to interact with the character. And yes, she said YES.

Marriage

In 2018, Kondo went on to marry Miku in a ceremony at a Tokyo chapel, spending around 2 million yen (approximately $13,000 or 11 Lakhs INR) for the event. Kondo and Hatsune Miku's honeymoon was in Sapporo, the headquarters of Crypton Future Media. Kondo booked flights and a hotel room for two. It was only after the wedding that Kondo discovered the term "Fictosexual" and paved the way for several other people on this journey to find love. 

No Rejections

According to Kondo, his virtual wife Miku will “always be there for him, never betray him, and he’ll never have to see her get ill or die.” The fact that fictional characters are one-sided and incapable of rejection is an appealing option to many individuals. There is no fear of rejection or humiliation and it makes people feel "liberated" in a way.

Some outspoken fictosexuals, such as the authors of The Fictosexual Manifesto and people on the r/fictosexual subreddit, have argued that their delegitimisation and stigmatisation, such as the claims that their partnerships “aren’t real”, is a form of bigotry.  If people are happy, why do we have to hate?