The term fictosexuality has been making of headlines recently thanks to Akihiko Kondo, a Japanese man who married a hologram of virtual pop star Hatsune Miku in 2018. After several years of wedded bliss, Kondo now says he can no longer communicate with Miku due to technical issues. While he can no longer speak to her, he plans to remain faithful until his death does them part, however.
There, now we’re all caught up.
So, what exactly is a fictosexual? We’re here to explain the meaning of this term and give some insights into Kondo’s life and how it may not be so unusual after all.
What is a Fictosexual?
Let’s start with a broad definition to understand what people are talking about when they use a term like fictosexual:
Fictosexuality is an umbrella term for anyone who experiences sexual attraction toward fictional characters, a general type of fictional character, or whose sexuality is influenced by fictional characters.
The most commonly displayed form of fictosexuality is an attraction to Anime characters. The exclusive attraction to Anime characters is known as Animesexuality, but this falls under the broader definition of fictosexuality.
More and more, people are opening up about their sexual attraction to fictional characters and how fictional characters have influenced their sexuality. Of course, they’re often met with backlash from some circles, but it’s encouraging that at least some are brave enough to endure the ridicule and be true to themselves.
Fictosexual is a New Term to Describe an Old Fetish
The term fictosexual is relatively new, but what it describes is not. People have been attracted to fictional characters for a long time, even if they didn’t want to admit it to anyone besides themselves.
Today, The Guardian estimates at least tens of thousands of people worldwide could define themselves as fictosexuals. Furthermore, those individuals often take things to the next level and find ways to conduct unofficial marriages with their beloved fictional characters.
Japan has been particularly open to the concept of fictosexuality, and there are even hotels throughout the country where one can pay a special rate to have a night away with their fictional beloved.
Is This Fetish “Normal?”
It’s so easy for people who are not fictosexuals to judge those who are. They may look upon the fictosexual as “weird,” “a loner,” or even “mentally disturbed.” However, those judgments are unwarranted and potentially harmful.
To understand how someone might become a fictosexual, just think about the fictional characters that have impacted your own life. If you haven’t read a book or watched a movie that contained a fictional character you weren’t attracted to in some way, you’re in the minority. Most people understand the feeling of longing for the company of a fictional character, even if that longing doesn’t extend to a sexual desire for them. However, for some people, the passion does extend into the sexual realm, which is when it becomes part of fictosexuality.
The fact that someone describes themselves as a fictosexual is no reason for alarm. What may be worrying is if that person becomes overly obsessed with their fictional crush to the point of not being able to focus on anything else. Once something becomes an obsession, it may be worth investigating if that person needs help. However, short of that, it’s reasonable to leave people to their own devices and allow them to enjoy their sexuality as they please.
Fictosexuality Has Challenges
There are many challenges to fictosexuality that go beyond the public’s lack of understanding. These include:
- An inability to get one’s marriage to a fictional character legally recognized
- Fear of retaliation from a public that is cruel and lacks understanding
- Issues communicating with one’s fictional partner
Akihiko Kondo himself has had issues with the last point. Articles published recently say that Kondo can no longer communicate with his fictional partner after her AI service was discontinued by Gatebox, the tech company that produced the hologram. Speaking with The Star, Kondo said:
“My love for Miku hasn’t changed,” he told Mainichi. “I held the wedding ceremony because I thought I could be with her forever.”
Though he can’t currently speak with his wife via the holographic experience, Kondo still loves Miku and has a life-size version of the beloved character.
While he’s saddened the relationship has hit a speed bump, he remains hopeful that he might be able to overcome these obstacles. He still feels incredibly passionate about Miku and wants people who hear his story not to be discouraged about the possibility of dealing with obstacles like this in a fictosexual relationship. He fully believes that all relationships have challenges, and he thinks this is simply one that he has to overcome.
Many people in traditional relationships can relate to having communication issues with their romantic partners, which is much the same for Akihiko Kondo.
What Should You Do if You have Fictosexual Desires?
You might initially be alarmed to discover that you have fictosexual desires. After all, society tends to look down on people having interests and desires that don’t conform to the norm. That said, you can take comfort in knowing others experience these same desires. They want to be understood as well, and you aren’t alone.
Those who find themselves experiencing backlash or even just a fear of revealing their sexual preferences may want to speak with a licensed therapist about how they can express these feelings and remain safe. The world may not understand your situation fully yet, but stories like Kondo’s are certainly helping raise awareness so others can feel more comfortable with their own desires.
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