Meet 38-year-old Akihiko Kondo, a proud “fictosexual” who married a 16-year-old hologram fours years ago. Like most marriages, pixelated or otherwise, the happy couple have hit a bit of a rough patch. Specifically – the hologram’s software has expired and the company who developed her have no plans to update. Devastating for Akihiko!

Akihiko spent ¥2 million (£12,222) on the wedding to his animated bride, which none of his family attended (understandable). Japanese newspaper Mainichi explains what’s gone wrong:

What has changed for Kondo since his wedding ceremony is that he can no longer enjoy conversations with the character.

‘The company that developed the service terminated it in March, saying the limited production model had run its course.’

‘I held the wedding ceremony because I thought I could be with her forever,’ he said. ..

How tragic is that? I mean let’s just pretend that a 38-year-old man being in love with a digital 16-year-old isn’t completely insane for just a second. Akihiko genuinely cared for his teenage hologram bride. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Probably would have too, had fate not intervened. What’s he supposed to do now? Jerk it to manga porn as she looks down on him from The Cloud?

As they say – it’s better to have loved and lost than to not have loved at all. Thoughts and prayers with Akihiko and his dearly departed dream holo-bride. Every country and culture has it’s quirks, but it’s fair to say nobody does ‘weird’ quite like the Japanese do.

For the woman who faked her own wedding in order to get her ex-boyfriend to text her, click HERE. Jesus Christ.