While they can only interact with their partner through a pre-written script, these virtual beauties β Rinko, Manaka or Nene β offer a kind of instant emotional connection at the tap of a stylus.
I wanted to show the human aspect, the individual stories behind those who use these applications. Her images reveal the secret lives of thirty-somethings who have accepted living alone instead of looking for love.
They share a common yearning for connection and found it on a touch screen. Many see it as just a game and can easily distinguish between the computerized and reality, while others are perpetually stuck in a love loop, desperately waiting for the next update of the game. One player holds a picture of him and his virtual girlfriend, Manaka, at a resort town called Atami, which caters to players on a weekend retreat programmed into the game.
Another year-old player spends one of many nights alone in his one-bedroom apartment with his console, chatting with Manaka, his e-girlfriend of five years. When asked what he was looking for in a woman, he said he wanted someone who appreciates his hobbies. They wanted someone who accepted them as they were. For others like Masano, who has been dating the character called Rinko since , the ease and surety of a virtual girlfriend qualms the fear of failure in the real dating sphere.
These feelings are not limited to Japanese men β game developers have also released romance simulations that cater to women. These games have remained a distinctly Japanese trend, though. Follow him on Twitter photojournalism. Follow her on Twitter rachelllowry. Contact us at letters time.
