Japanese man 'marries' computer game character
The groom – who calls himself SAL9000 – says he fell in love with Nene Anegasaki from the Nintendo DS game Love Plus after a string of failed romances with girlfriends from other animated games.
The wedding took place at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and was presided over by a priest. The groom, dressed in a white suit and tie, read his vows before Ms Anegasaki flashed hers up on the touch screen of his red Nintendo.
The event was broadcast live on the Nico Nico Douga website, with the groom's best man giving a speech and Ms Anegasaki's maid of honour – also imaginary – posting an on-screen message expressing her happiness at the first union of a man and computer character.
The reception included a disco and the entire event attracted thousands of online comments before SAL9000 and his new wife jetted off to the Pacific island of Guam for their honeymoon.
In an online message, SAL9000 said: "I had heard before that the groom is very busy during a Japanese wedding, but it was much more than I expected.
"Both the actual wedding space and the live web site were full on the day and I'm so happy that so many people were able to witness this.
"Now that the ceremony is over, I feel as if I have been able to achieve a major milestone in my life," he wrote. "Some people have expressed doubts about my actions, but at the end of the day this is really just about us as husband and wife.
"As long as the two of us can go on to create a happy household, I'm sure any misgivings about us will be resolved."
The message included photos of the groom shopping in Tokyo with his bride in his hand, as well as photos from their honeymoon – including one of SAL9000 playing on the beach watched by his new wife, a tropical flower resting gently on her screen.
There may be trouble ahead for the newly-weds, however, as SAL9000 has not informed his parents that he has got married. The couple plans to visit his family over the New Year holidays to announce their betrothal.
Whatever gets you through the night I guess.
_________________
”Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy." ~H. L. Mencken
@themorrigan1972
Subject: Japanese man 'marries' computer game character 
Sat Dec 05, 2009 7:41 pm
