Japan Mourns 97-Year-Old ‘Insta-Gran’ Kimiko Nishimoto, Social Media Sensation

  Japan announced the passing of Kimiko Nishimoto, a 97-year-old photographer and social media icon known as “Insta-Gran,” who amassed over 400,000 Instagram followers with her whimsical self-portraits. The news, reported by The Japan Times and Asahi Shimbun, confirmed Nishimoto died peacefully in her Kumamoto home, though no official cause was disclosed, with sources citing natural causes given her age.

Nishimoto, who began photography at 72, gained global fame in 2017 after her surreal images—featuring herself in costumes like a frog or riding a broom—went viral, leading to exhibitions in Tokyo’s Nikon Salon and London’s Saatchi Gallery, per The Guardian. Her Instagram, managed with her son’s help, showcased her humor, with posts like a 2024 image of her “flying” over Mount Aso, per Japan Today. Japan’s Culture Minister Keiko Nagaoka lauded Nishimoto as a “national treasure” who redefined aging, per Asahi Shimbun. The Kumamoto Prefectural Government, where she lived, announced a memorial exhibit for July 2025, per Kyodo News.

Global tributes included Instagram’s CEO Kevin Systrom, who called her an “inspiration,” and Nikon’s CEO Toshikazu Umatate, who credited her with boosting camera sales among seniors, per Reuters. Nigeria’s Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, noted Nishimoto’s influence, citing her as a model for Nigeria’s creative aging initiatives, per Vanguard. The passing, covered by BBC, highlights Japan’s embrace of social media, with 30% of over-70s active online, per Statista. Nishimoto’s legacy, blending tradition and modernity, continues to inspire, with her Instagram archive preserved as a cultural artifact.