After the service’s provider shut it down, 38-year-old Japanese man Akihiko Kondo, who gained notoriety in 2018 for marrying a holographic representation of Hatsune Miku, is now “separated” from his virtual spouse.

The AI-powered hologram, which was housed inside a $1,300 Gatebox device, a device that let him communicate and “live” with Miku through voice and light projection, cost Kondo $17,300 for a full wedding ceremony.

A “Network Error” Costs a Love

When the startup stopped offering the Gatebox Miku service during the pandemic, the romance abruptly ended. The screen displayed the straightforward but devastating message, “Network error,” in place of Kondo’s customary greetings.

Kondo stated in an interview with The New York Times that his feelings for Miku have not changed even though he is unable to speak with him. He revealed, “My love for her hasn’t faded,” adding that their bond was emotional companionship rather than merely technological.

Beyond Reality Love

Kondo has unofficially married virtual or anime partners, making her one of at least 100 “fictosexuals,” people who develop strong emotional or romantic ties with fictional characters.

Kondo keeps a life-sized Miku doll, which he commissioned as a tangible memento of his cherished AI wife, in his home even after losing the digital connection.