Kimiko Nishimoto, the Grandmother Who’s Keeping Instagram Entertained

Sitting on a broomstick that appears to be suspended in mid-air, wearing a witch’s hat, or holding a dummy in her mouth, wearing a hat in the shape of a chick and reading a children’s storybook… These are some of the mischievous poses assumed by Kimiko Nishimoto in the posts found on her Instagram account. This isn’t the profile of a millennial in search of online fame, but rather that of a Japanese ninety-something who’s a master of the art of presenting herself centre stage. This intriguing project has been delighting the Internet since she created her Instagram account in 2017, as proven by her hundreds of thousands of followers who hail from all four corners of the globe.

A late arrival to photography

Kimiko Nishimoto, a former housewife in her nineties, discovered photography at the age of 72 when a friend invited her to a beginners’ photography class. Since then, she hasn’t put her camera down, and has transitioned from photographing still lifes to trying her hand at self-portraits. Armed with her tripod and remote control, Kimiko Nishimoto puts herself centre stage, often in some kind of costume, for photos in which she regularly appears to be floating.

Nishimoto’s preferred playground is the area surrounding her home in Kumamoto, and in some photos she presents herself as the victim of a scooter or bike accident, half-flattened by a car, or flying through the air at the speed of light from the comfort of her electric wheelchair. Kimiko Nishimoto has mastered image editing software, which allows her to let her imagination run wild. Her style is clearly popular, because she has already been the subject of several exhibitions across Japan, notably one held at the Epson Imaging Gallery Epsite in Tokyo. 

‘I just want to try to bring people joy’, she explains to the AFP. ‘Taking photos is the secret to my happiness. I’ll keep doing it for as long as I live.’

Kimiko Nishimoto’s work can be found on her Instagram.