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Japanese Petition to Marry Cartoons
November 03, 2008 7:29 AM
By Gabriel O'Rorke, ABC News London
Whether the man of your dreams is Brad Pitt, Nelson Mandela, or Homer Simpson, most people accept that a crush is just a crush. A fantasy: something to dream about on a rainy afternoon. However, more than 1,000 people in Japan are petitioning to take it to the next level. Taichi Takashita is the man behind the plan: he has created an on-line petition asking for a law to permit civilians to marry comic characters.
Alongside the petition, Takashita explained that he is putting forward the unconventional law because he feels more of a connection with the "two dimensional world" than with reality. "I am no longer interested in three dimensions. I would even like to become a resident of the two-dimensional world," he wrote. "However, that seems impossible with present-day technology. Therefore, at the very least, would it be possible to legally authorize marriage with a two-dimensional character?"
Takashita is not alone in this sentiment. The popularity of formalizing the union between cartoons and humans was instantly apparent. The proof is in the petition. Among the 1,000 supporters who signed, one man expanded on his plea: "For a long time I have only been able to fall in love with two-dimensional people and currently I have someone I really love. Even if she is fictional, it is still loving someone. I would like to have legal approval for this system at any cost."
The popularity of comic books in Japan is no secret. Cartoon characters are frequently elevated to celebrity status. Even Prime Minister, Taro Aso, has spoken of his love of comic books. The British newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, reported that Aso complained of not having time to read comic books since taking office last month. Japanese comics do not, however, always hit the press in a positive light; there was speculation that the murder of 22-year-old British teacher, Lindsay Ann Hawker, in March 2007 was a reenactment of a scenario in a Manga comic. Piles of the comics, which feature rape and torture, were found at the flat of the man convicted of Hawker’s murderer. Nevertheless, Manga comics, which originated after World War II, and are widely popular in Japan, despite being renowned for their violence.
It is clear that Takashita is not alone in his passion for cartoons. Only last week, on the 24th of October, the lack of distinction between reality and cartoons was compounded when a 43 woman was jailed in Tokyo after losing her temper in a virtual game when her digital husband suddenly divorced her. She logged on with his password and killed his digital persona. Police confirm that the woman has been jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data.
With the numbers of supporters already exceeding a thousand, Takashita’s goal of presenting his petition to the Japanese government is nearing a reality. Although, considering that same-sex relationships are not legal in Japan, the likelihood of a change of law seems dubious.
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November 3, 2008 in Gabriel O'Rorke | Permalink | User Comments (35)
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Crazy! What about that woman maybe going to jail for murdering her virtual husband! To much time in front of the tv and video game!!! Get outside and smell real life.
Posted by: samhiguchi | Nov 3, 2008 8:15:10 AM
I tell you, these people are NOT normal.
Posted by: Weird Weird Weird | Nov 3, 2008 10:14:07 AM
After having lived in Japan for years, this does not surprise me at all. I know many otherwise "normal" people who live in a "virtual" world. They think that they are in fact a "character" and live their life accordingly.
Sounds somewhat weird but I think it is just a way for them to escape to a world where they have more control.
Posted by: J Dwivedi | Nov 3, 2008 10:15:03 AM
See where gay marriage has taken us?
Posted by: Lee | Nov 3, 2008 10:27:44 AM
See what happens when you have something good on TV? Manga-wise? Too Many Narutards.
Posted by: Josh | Nov 3, 2008 11:12:56 AM
Lee, this wasn't brought about by gay marriage. Reread the article please.
I don't think this is too wierd. My brother has fantasies about manga and anime characters. And he's an adult. I wouldn't have a problem with it. If it makes them happy, then so be it.
Posted by: Lawrence | Nov 3, 2008 11:18:25 AM
I do not want to marry Jessica Rabbit, I merely want to test her reproductive capacity, and investigate her gravity defying mammaries more closely...
Posted by: Zod | Nov 3, 2008 11:28:19 AM
I suppose this is the "logical" outcome of geek culture that has been building for decades. I essentially went to school with these guys: anime obsessed dorks with no social skills and a tenuous grip on reality. What terrifies me about all this, of course, is that eventually these guys will be in charge. Sad and pathetic.
Posted by: Andy | Nov 3, 2008 11:29:50 AM
The question has to be asked: how would you consummate a marriage to a comic-book character? It seems to me that there would be a very real danger of a paper cut of the worst possible sort.
Posted by: Dave | Nov 3, 2008 11:44:03 AM
I'd almost say that since gay marriage is being mandated on our society, that this plays right in hand. Except for on question: Are both partners consenstual adults? Granted, even that is irrelevant in too many of today's African/Middle-Eastern cultures.
Posted by: Eric from Missouri | Nov 3, 2008 11:48:12 AM
Get A LIFE? who would ever marry an action figure
Posted by: Eric | Nov 3, 2008 11:55:10 AM
Since they are Loony Toons, I guess it's ok.
Posted by: roberto | Nov 3, 2008 12:04:02 PM
It is like marrying human imagination that is printed out in a sequence and at a certain frequency.
Does it make any sense?
Posted by: perflead | Nov 3, 2008 12:04:46 PM
It's always SO nice to receive confirmation that the U.S. doesn't contain the world's only nutcases.
Posted by: Eleonora27 | Nov 3, 2008 12:20:22 PM
Well, here it starts. First it's pushing gay marriage, and now people want to marry cartoon characters. DO NOT EVEN SAY THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ALLOWING HOMOSEXUALS TO MARRY!! The fight against proposition 8 in California is only the tip of the iceberg; can't wait to see who wants the right to marry what next.
YES ON PROPOSITION 8!
Posted by: miriam | Nov 3, 2008 12:47:19 PM
You say this is pathetic? Don't worry - American people are more pathetic!
Posted by: geez!! | Nov 3, 2008 12:52:31 PM
Lawrence, I was being facetious. Guess I shoulda added the smiley face.
Posted by: Lee | Nov 3, 2008 1:01:28 PM
Oh, yea, that would have helped Lee. :)
Posted by: Lawrence | Nov 3, 2008 1:07:57 PM
It must be imbarrasing to be Japanese.
Posted by: Cotton | Nov 3, 2008 1:32:26 PM
Fantasy vs. reality...this is too much.
Well, I don't find these people abnormal. They just have a "dream" that's way off base.
Anyhow, if the petition does work I wonder how the future will be like.
Posted by: Alice | Nov 3, 2008 1:41:02 PM
no they should not marry cartoons. a cartoon is a copyrighted piece of work, and where is someone going to draw the line? if an actor portrays that cartoon character, some nut who "married" this thing might think that actor is their property or something stupid. one more thing, it is terrible the amount of pornography the manga puts in its books in the form of animation, that just breaks up the family foundation, and now we see it is really warping people and doing just that.
Posted by: guest | Nov 3, 2008 2:14:49 PM
My thoughts run to... how many husbands/wives are the comic book characters allowed to have? Or if in the occurance of a divorce does the comic character creator studios get half of what was accumulated during the "Marriage"?
Posted by: Kendra | Nov 3, 2008 2:35:41 PM
Hmmmmm ---well if it makes them happy--someone will make a buck doing this I'm sure---remember pet rocks?
Posted by: tom | Nov 3, 2008 2:37:05 PM
Yes, there are some segments of the Japanese population that carry their obsessions too far. That is common is any culture. This article is flawed, however, when it states that "Nevertheless, Manga comics, which originated after World War II, and are widely popular in Japan, despite being renowned for their violence." Manga is NOT a genre. Manga is just a word that means Japanese Comic. There are varieties of manga (notice the lower case m) and it is as diverse any medium. Similar to novels, you have some that are violent, but you have others that are romantic, mystery, comedic or fantasy. I've even picked up a manga that was about a mother dealing with child who had autism. That certainly wasn't violent. Manga is a medium used to tell a story. Please look at your choice of words more closely.
Posted by: Lisa | Nov 3, 2008 2:39:45 PM
Most of Japan's 3rd dimension was destroyed in the blasts at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, so you can't really fault them.
Posted by: Rod M | Nov 3, 2008 3:33:58 PM
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