Everyone knows Japan is facing a severe demographic crisis, with birth rates plummeting yearly. So, the last thing citizens expected was a high-ranking official admitting openly that she prefers fictional romance. During a recent press conference, Minister of Economic Security Onoda Kimi stunned reporters by directly confessing she can only feel love for two-dimensional beings.

A shield for artificial romance

The surprising statement didn’t come out of nowhere. The event focused on discussing the risks and emotional impact of new conversational artificial intelligence tools, especially those designed as virtual partners. Instead of condemning emotional dependence on technology, the minister adopted a highly understanding stance. She explained that if someone can distinguish reality from fiction, there’s nothing wrong with falling in love with a computer program. For her, judging what a person loves is a complete mistake, reiterating that her private life follows a strict rule of exclusivity toward 2D formats.

National crisis at the worst time

As expected, her words sparked massive criticism in the media. Political analysts and society questioned whether it was appropriate for a cabinet member to promote emotional attachment to fictional characters when the country desperately needs to encourage real marriage and family formation. Many citizens pointed out that normalizing such virtual relationships from the highest levels of power could further accelerate the population decline. Although the official tried to calm the waters by arguing it was a personal choice, not state policy, the debate over her priorities was already widespread.

This unusual incident raises a fascinating conversation about how technology is redefining human relationships in the modern era. With romance simulators and virtual partners becoming increasingly advanced and realistic, do you think governments should worry about the number of people preferring digital relationships, or do you consider love for a fictional character a personal right that no one should judge?