Some women are so lonely they need a man's comforting arms around them all the time -- even when they listen to music. Or so it would seem if you believe the latest clickbait. This time, the purveyor of the headline-screaming story is a Japanese company called Otome Yusha, which literally means "Hero of Maidens." It has come up with a concept audio device called the Boyfriend Hug Speakers, which may be the most arresting way to listen to music ever -- especially if you do it outside in public. The Bluetooth-enabled speakers are integrated into a pair of "arms" that the user wears around ...

Feeling lonely as the autumn season begins? Don't worry. The VR Kareshi is a virtual Japanese boyfriend for ladies in need of some tender attention from a constant companion. Virtual girlfriends (and boyfriends) are nothing new. Over the years, we've seeen plenty of dating sims apps and video games, from the relatively innocent to the outright erotic. The twist here is that the technology for this otome romance game is now virtual reality. But even this isn't actual new per se. Indeed, the same makers, IVR, have already released the VR Kanojo, which is far more explicit and, as ...

Virtual dating has long been a big part of the adult industry or quasi-adult industry in Japan. What with all the reports of sexless Japan and "parasite singles" still living with their parents well into their thirties, you might almost be forgiven for thinking that "virtual boyfriends" apps and digital idols were responsible for the downfall of the nation. There were more examples at Tokyo Game Show 2016 that will surely not do much for Japan's reputation in this regard. The show featured an array of otome romance apps for ladies to find that Prince Charming in 2D form. One ...

Get your boys' love fix with the new PC and phone battle card game Out Division. As with any such game, you collect character cards and build up a strong team. The difference is that all the characters are male and what men they are... What has been called "the most unexpected element" of the game is the "Stroke of Lust" section. This is a memory game where you have to match pairs of images. Needless to say, the images are rather on the saucy side. Can you match up the right male ...

While the Tokyo Game Show last weekend ultimately did not feature Sony's divisive "Summer Lesson" demo for the Project Morpheus HMD headset, it did have some virtual boyfriends instead. One booth at TGS 2014 showcased virtual dating and romance apps so women could get their perfect partner. The only snag is that the man in question does not exist in reality. Voltage Romance Apps features a series of smartphone social apps with fake boyfriends for lonely women. They even have English-language versions adapted for North American audiences. The average user is a 30-year-old Japanese ...