Lucie, a 24-year-old French woman living in Tokyo, held a symbolic wedding ceremony with Mami Nanami, a fictional character from the anime Rent-A-Girlfriend, at a chapel in Okayama on December 13, 2025.
The ceremony, though legally non-binding, marks the culmination of a relationship that’s been four and a half years in the making, and it’s sparked heated debates across social media about love, identity, and the boundaries of fandom.
Known online as Hikari (@hikari_sunshine on TikTok), Lucie is a Sciences Po Paris graduate who discovered her passion for Japanese culture during childhood through family trips and language learning in high school.
But what really changed everything was 2018, when she discovered Rent-A-Girlfriend and became captivated by Mami Nanami, the series’ antagonist.
Why Mami Nanami?
Here’s where it gets interesting. Mami is described as a manipulative and independent character who defies typical harem anime stereotypes, making her stand out in a genre known for passive female characters.
While most fans gravitate toward the protagonist Chizuru or other heroines, Lucie was drawn to Mami’s complexity and refusal to conform to traditional gender roles.
Her dedication goes way beyond casual fandom. Lucie’s built a massive collection of Mami merchandise including figurines, posters, badges, and plushies. She brings Mami along everywhere, represented by a plush that accompanies her to cafes and trips.
She’s celebrated special occasions with meticulous attention to detail, including wearing yellow, Mami’s signature color, with gel nails adorned with pearls and specially styled hair.
The chapel ceremony
The December 13 wedding ceremony in Okayama featured Lucie in a white dress and flawless makeup, with Mami appearing as a carefully dressed plush nestled in her hand.
The date and location were meticulously planned, transforming what some might dismiss as fantasy into a deeply personal commitment. Lucie had previously organized a symbolic engagement in 2023 to celebrate their virtual anniversary.
This phenomenon isn’t unique to Lucie. In Japan, it’s called oshikatsu, a cultural practice where deep emotional connections with fictional characters become social rituals.
The concept of “waifus” represents characters toward whom fans develop intense emotional bonds, sometimes claiming symbolic marital relationships. Someone even married virtual pop star Hatsune Miku in real life, proving this isn’t an isolated incident.
The reactions have been polarized. Some celebrate Lucie’s self-expression and freedom to love without harming others, while critics question dedicating time to a fictional relationship.
Lucie remains unfazed, stating Mami gives her daily energy and asserting her right to love freely. She’s aware of the one-sided nature of the relationship and even nervous about how the manga might end, but she stands firm in her choice.
Beyond the controversy, Lucie’s story raises genuine questions about modern love, imagination, and evolving social norms. Whether you see it as eccentricity or legitimate expression, her actions reflect a society redefining emotional frameworks where personal identity is becoming increasingly individualized.
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