Japan sees rise in virtual marriages with fictional characters

In Japan, a growing phenomenon of “2D marriages” involves individuals entering into unions with fictional characters from manga, anime, or video games. While these ceremonies hold no legal standing, they represent a significant cultural shift and a response to modern social issues such as loneliness, social pressure, and the fragility of human connections.

Photographer Jérôme Gence has documented these unions, highlighting how individuals find emotional support through virtual figures. One notable example is Akihiko Kondo, who celebrated a ceremony in Tokyo with the virtual singer Hatsune Miku to express gratitude for her role in helping him overcome depression.

Sociological data suggests the scale of this trend is substantial, with approximately 3.5 million people in Japan aged 20 to 39 reporting romantic feelings for animated or video game characters. This phenomenon, rooted in otaku culture, is also beginning to be observed in other countries, including France and Italy.