Meet the 90‑Year‑Old Instagram Legend Who’s Turning Grandma Into a Superhero
Just shy of her 90th birthday, Kimiko Nishimoto has proved that age really is just a number—especially when you’re using a camera to poke fun at yourself. The Japanese great‑grandmother puts herself in unlikely scenarios that have won over 41,000 followers in two short months.
From a Hobby at 72 to a Viral Sensation
- Started photographing at 72 after signing up for a local class.
- Instantly fell in love, to the point she sleeps “by the side of her camera” (paper‑thin copy, that is).
- First solo exhibition a decade later in her hometown; now the real star is on Instagram.
How Kimiko Breaks the Rules (and Keeps It Safe)
“I never actually injured myself taking a photo,” she tells AFP, chuckling that she’s “full of fun” and hardly ever thinks about danger. Even when she’s pretending to fall off a bike or sliding on a motorised buggy, everything stays harmlessly simulated.
Hilarious Highlights
- A broom‑stick ride that would give Harry Potter a run for his money.
- A mock “traffic accident” that has viewers gasping, then laughing.
- A flashy selfie where she appears to be levitated as a frilly fairy.
- Moments while battling “angry birds” on a toy buggy.
- A cheeky “garbage bag” pose that could pass for a ransom photo.
Kimiko reveals that her humor isn’t a sudden burst; it’s a conscious choice. Whenever she steps somewhere new, she “just think[s] about what would be fun to dress up as in that place.”
Family & Tech: The Backing Crew
Her son helps set up shots, while she manages her own Instagram through a smartphone. She also lives with Pepper, a humanoid robot meant for elder companionship—but Kimiko laughs that it’s more trouble than joy and hasn’t been turned on in a while.
Beyond the Lens
After grabbing her camera and slipping into a fluffy one‑piece dog costume, Kimiko says photography is simply a way to bring joy to others and keep her happiness thriving. “I’ll keep doing it for as long as I’m alive,” she says with a proud grin.
Kimiko is proof that life’s best moments can be captured one silly frame at a time, no matter what your age is.
