The holographic companion offering intimacy to Japan's lonely singletons

Young adults are increasingly shunning romantic relationships, resulting in plunging birth rates and a declining population. It has reached the point that Japanese media has even come up with a name for it: sekkusu shinai shokogun--celibacy syndrome. To fill this intimacy void, a Japanese firm has come up with a holographic companion that allows its owner to "enjoy a life with someone while still retaining your freedom." Azuma Hikari, developed by Gatebox, offers similar services to virtual assistants developed by Amazon, Apple and Microsoft, but comes in a much more anthropomorphic form. Hikari's holographic projection resides in a 50cm glass tube and is described by Gatebox as a "comforting character that is great for those living alone."