Japanese manga and anime are two of the country’s most recognizable pop culture exports, with the likes of One Piece and Attack on Titan attracting die-hard followers across the globe. Obsessed fans—often referred to as otaku—pay tribute to their favorite two-dimensional characters in a variety of ways.

On the milder side are those with sprawling action figure collections, and others who play dress-up at cosplay conventions. Hardcore otaku take the obsession further: “marrying” their 2-D crush, and even sleeping with objects bearing the character’s resemblance.