Long-distance relationships are no longer rare in today's global village. But how long can a couple last without actually seeing each other? Fukuoka residents Naoko Yufu, 28, and 26-year-old Xie Guosong from China have been apart for about four of the five years of their relationship.
But thanks to trust and good communication they were able to continue their romance, they said. While they were apart, they phoned each other every day. "You have to really talk more on the phone than when you're actually seeing the person," said Yufu, "so you can actually get to know the person well even though you're apart."
They have now been married for a year, and are finally starting their life together in downtown Fukuoka.