Pictures of a Japanese woman wearing a wedding dress and appearing to marry Kazuma Kiryu from the Like a Dragon video game series went viral online. But the ceremony was actually an expensive promotional event, not a real legal marriage. The photos showed the woman standing next to a life-size cardboard cutout of the famous character and started spreading on social media on December 9.
One post that got nearly a million views joked about how regular men are supposed to compete with the legendary Kazuma Kiryu. According to Dexerto, many people thought this was a real wedding, especially after some news sites reported that a 25-year-old woman in Japan had married a cardboard video game character. The good news is that Kiryu isn’t actually married, but fans can pay for a special photo opportunity with him.
Sega and RGG Studio created this event to celebrate the Like a Dragon series turning 20 years old. They organized a big display based on The Four Ceremonies of Life, and marriage was one of them. The event space was designed to look exactly like a real wedding venue.
Fans can marry their favorite characters at this special anniversary event
Inside the display, there are life-sized panels of 11 main characters, including Kiryu, Majima, Ichiban, and Seonhee. Fans can line up and take wedding photos with their favorite character. There’s even a special app that lets visitors create custom couple photos using new character artwork made just for the anniversary. While this might seem unusual, it’s not the first time people have gone to extreme lengths when it comes to planning their dream wedding proposal.
The viral photos came from the event’s most expensive option called the Special Wedding Experience Package. This package costs $980, which is 150,000 yen, and turns a simple photo session into a complete fake wedding ceremony. Event organizers defended the price by saying it helps fans “create the best memories to commemorate the 20th anniversary.”
When fans buy this experience, they get a private room, a professional hair and makeup artist, and a photographer to capture everything. They can pick a wedding dress or suit, pose with their chosen character, and invite up to ten guests to attend. The package doesn’t include an open bar, which many people would consider the best part of any wedding. Speaking of memorable wedding moments, some couples create unforgettable experiences with touching gifts at their ceremonies.
Since this is just for fun, people who participate get two fake documents: a marriage certificate and divorce papers. Neither paper is legally real, but they make nice souvenirs. Only 15 people are chosen through a lottery system to buy this exclusive package.
The exhibition runs in Tokyo from November 28 to December 22. After that, it moves to Osaka from February 6 to February 24.
Published: Dec 10, 2025 03:15 pm