Ryuta Watanabe, a 35-year-old Sapporo dweller, has the internet buzzing with his unconventional life reveal. On “Abema Prime,” he spilled the tea about his four wives and two girlfriends, aiming to outdo shogun Tokugawa Ienari’s legendary feat.
Choosing the house-husband life for a decade, Watanabe funds his polygamous lifestyle through his partners’ earnings. He’s got a schedule to snuggle up in each wife’s room nightly, though one of his 24-year-old spouses lives separately.
His dream? To father 54 kids, topping Tokugawa Ienari’s record. “I want my name etched in history,” he declared, already on the lookout for wife number five. Watanabe’s legal loophole is a head-scratcher in Japan, where polygamy doesn’t fly. He marries, divorces, then moves on to the next, but the legal standing of this workaround is hazy at best.
The story mirrors “Kanojo mo Kanojo (Girlfriend, Girlfriend),” where fiction’s Naoya Mukai juggles two girlfriends. It’s a quirky twist of life imitating art, raising real questions about relationship boundaries in today’s society.
Online reactions range from awe to skepticism, with comments highlighting the sheer audacity and potential social implications of Watanabe’s lifestyle:
- “Our guy’s on a solo mission to tackle Japan’s birthrate crisis.”
- “Remember a BBC News piece about him? It hinted at human trafficking due to his frequent East Asia travels with numerous women and kids. The outcome was unclear.”
- “This reeks more of grooming than anime harem. Most partners are in their twenties; one’s 22 with two kids. At best, she fell for a 33-year-old with multiple partners and had back-to-back babies. At worst, a 30-something man groomed a barely legal girl.”
- “Ironic, he’s like Shinzo Abe’s strongest soldier, rest in peace.”
- “Is this what Shinzo Abe envisioned for Japan?.”
- “Huh…well…hope the dude’s got a good job. Harems are pricey…just for upkeep. Especially with kids.”
- “He’s a stay-at-home dad handling housework. Odd at first glance, but if he’s making a happy home for his women to return to, who are we to judge?.”
- “Long play for him, maybe, as the women seem to cover just house upkeep, and he’s likely got zero savings. With more kids, he’ll split the elder care among many, reducing each child’s cost. If he hits 50 kids, each giving $100 a month, he’s set for retirement.”
- “Can’t help but feel future relationship troubles brewing. More wives will be unmanageable. Many kids mean most won’t bond well with him, understanding the situation as they grow. Imagine being one of 54, and the potential bullying when peers find out.”
- “There’s probably something more sinister than media realizes; this stinks of creepy.”
- “Would polygamy really solve Japan’s birthrate issue?.”
As we circle back to the introduction, Watanabe’s tale is a fascinating blend of ambition, societal norms, and legal gymnastics. That challenges our perceptions of family and relationships. Whether you’re in awe or in doubt, this story is a testament to the complexities of modern love and the lengths to which one might go to leave a mark on history. If this imitating anime has piqued your interest, share it with your friends and see what they think about Watanabe’s quest for a record-breaking family.
Source: Yahoo! News
