TOKYO-Supporters of the law, who were sitting on the public seats in the legislative building, erupted in celebration when the results were announced. The bill was backed by 460 out of 10 members of the House of Represenatives. "We are making history this moment," said Jun Suzuki, a leader of the Japan Otaku Association, a otaku rights group that drafted the proposal.
Otaku are a generation of geeks-most of the time men-who have emerged 20 years ago and have chosen to live in their own fantasy world of anime and manga.
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 2010, 36% of Japanese males aged 16 to 19 had no interest in sex. Another survey in 2011 found that 61% of unmarried men and 49% of women aged 18-34 were not in any kind of romantic relationship. Instead of a having a relationship in real life, more and more Japanese prefer two-dimensional love affairs. The new legislation allows men from 16 to marry their 3-D girlfriends.
"I am dating Manaka for 4 years and last year I started to think about marrying her but the Japanese marriage law did not allow to marry your virtual girlfriend. It was very frustrating," Suzuki explains. "Now it's legal and I am filled with happiness." Manaka is Suzuki's girlfriend and also a video game: She is one of the 10 virtual girlfriend that players can choose from in LovePuss, a Japanese dating simulator for the pocket-sized DS game player.
"Sometimes she is moody but most of the time she makes me happy when I feel down. And the best thing is I can always carry her in my pocket," says Suzuki. When commuting to work in the train for over an hour, at dinner, during taking a shower and even in the toilet- Manaka is always with him.
Next year, Suzuki plans his wedding ceremony with Manaka in his real life. Since Manaka is limited to understand just a handful phrases it is difficult for Suzuki to choose the right wedding dress for her. One is for sure: The wedding ceremony will be celebrated with a hologram of Manaka.
Otaku are a generation of geeks-most of the time men-who have emerged 20 years ago and have chosen to live in their own fantasy world of anime and manga.
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 2010, 36% of Japanese males aged 16 to 19 had no interest in sex. Another survey in 2011 found that 61% of unmarried men and 49% of women aged 18-34 were not in any kind of romantic relationship. Instead of a having a relationship in real life, more and more Japanese prefer two-dimensional love affairs. The new legislation allows men from 16 to marry their 3-D girlfriends.
"I am dating Manaka for 4 years and last year I started to think about marrying her but the Japanese marriage law did not allow to marry your virtual girlfriend. It was very frustrating," Suzuki explains. "Now it's legal and I am filled with happiness." Manaka is Suzuki's girlfriend and also a video game: She is one of the 10 virtual girlfriend that players can choose from in LovePuss, a Japanese dating simulator for the pocket-sized DS game player.
"Sometimes she is moody but most of the time she makes me happy when I feel down. And the best thing is I can always carry her in my pocket," says Suzuki. When commuting to work in the train for over an hour, at dinner, during taking a shower and even in the toilet- Manaka is always with him.
Next year, Suzuki plans his wedding ceremony with Manaka in his real life. Since Manaka is limited to understand just a handful phrases it is difficult for Suzuki to choose the right wedding dress for her. One is for sure: The wedding ceremony will be celebrated with a hologram of Manaka.
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