Tokyo man 'marries' online character

A Japanese man has just got 'married' to a virtual bride.

The 27-year-old man, who goes by the name of 'Sal 9000' exchanged vows with a woman he met in the virtual world - a character from a popular dating simulation game called 'Love Plus'.

Nene Anegasaki is a witty, doe-eyed beauty who looks perky and is always at Sal's beck and call, which is why he decided to marry her reports CNN.

Sal reportedly says Nene is better than a human girlfriend.

"She doesn't get angry if I'm late in replying to her. Well, she gets angry, but she forgives me quickly," explained Sal.

With Nene, Sal doesn't feel the need to find a human girlfriend, he added.

Although Japan's internet community has witnessed 'marriages' to avatars in the past, it's typically been within the confines of the virtual world.

Sal's marriage has become the first known human-to-avatar union.

Dressed in a white tux, Sal married Nene in front of friends and thousands of web users who watched the ceremony live online.

While Sal says he realises that the marriage cannot be legally binding he says, "I love this character, not a machine," when asked about whether he can love an electronic device.

- NZ HERALD STAFF