‘Insta-gran' who rocked social media dies aged 97
Goofy grandma: Nishimoto seen dressed in a dog costume, during a photo shoot outside her house in Kumamoto, Japan, in this 2018 filepic. — AFP
A Japanese great-grandmother with 400,000 Instagram followers who shot to fame for her goofy self-portraits after taking up photography aged 72 has died, her son said.
Kimiko Nishimoto, who died this week at the age of 97, said in a 2018 interview that 'you can take photos no matter how old you get'.
'Wherever it is, in your house, outside, or in your bed, you can do it. That is the nice thing about a camera,' she said.
Dubbed the 'selfie queen' by Japanese media, Nishimoto's posts showed her in various candid poses – from riding a broom like Harry Potter to imitating an off-duty sumo wrestler on their fifth beer of the night.
'Our mother always created her work with a smile,' a post from her son Kazutami Nishimoto said on her Instagram account on Thursday.
'We are deeply grateful to everyone who visited her photography exhibitions held across the country, to those who shared warm words of encouragement through Instagram... and to all who supported her warmly throughout her journey.'
Nishimoto's son teaches photography classes, which his mother started taking in retirement.
'Though she began photography at the age of 72, she was blessed with countless encounters, which enriched this third chapter of her life tremendously,' he said.
Nishimoto appeared on national television as her online following grew and was interviewed by major news outlets.
But her more out-there visual scenarios were also the cause of some confusion over the years.
One snap – showing her wrapped in a garbage bag, as if she had been discarded – drew criticism from people who didn't know she was involved in its set-up.
'It's not like ideas just suddenly pop into my head but wherever I go I think about what it would be fun to dress up as in that place,' she said in 2018. — AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Arise Sir David! Football legend Beckham knighted
LONDON (AFP): Former England football captain and global fashion icon David Beckham has been knighted on Friday (June 13) for his services to sport and charity, with The Who singer Roger Daltrey and actor Gary Oldman also receiving the honour. Beckham, who played 115 times for England as well as for some of the world's most high-profile clubs including Manchester United and Real Madrid, will now be known as "sir" and his wife Victoria, a former member of the Spice Girls pop group, will be known as Lady Beckham. The 50-year-old, who has long been in the running for a knighthood, was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2003 – a lesser award in Britain's honours system. Victoria later received the same award for services to the fashion industry. "Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour," Beckham said in a statement issued to the Press Association. "I'm so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I'm grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment," he added. Daltrey, who co-founded The Who in 1964, will also take the title of sir having been recognised for his services to charity and music in King Charles III's Birthday Honours list. The 81-year-old singer has been a patron of Teenage Cancer Trust since 2000, holding fundraising concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall for more than two decades. Daltrey 'dream' "It's kind of weird, but I am deeply honoured to get this, especially for the charity for the Teenage Cancer Trust, and I accept it on their behalf really, because this honour is really for all unsung heroes," the My Generation singer told the Press Association. "It's a dream come true for me, but it's especially a dream because the charity means so much," he added. Oldman, who won a best actor Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in 2017's Darkest Hour , also received a knighthood for his services to drama. The 67-year-old's films have earned over US$11bil, and his credits include the Harry Potter series, The Dark Knight trilogy and Air Force One , along with cameo appearances in sitcom Friends and music videos for David Bowie and Guns N' Roses. Stage star Elaine Page, who played Eva Peron in the first production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita and novelist Pat Barker have both been made dames. Barker is known for her World War I Regeneration Trilogy, the first book of which was turned into a Hollywood film starring Jonathan Pryce. Brand Beckham Beckham's knighthood is the culmination of years of tireless efforts to transcend football and turn himself into a global icon at the intersection of sport, fashion and business. The honour, one of the highest bestowed by the UK state, "is a powerful symbolic marker", Marie Agnes Parmentier, professor of marketing at the University of Montreal and author of several papers on "Posh and Becks", explained to AFP. Even at the height of his football career, Beckham was building his global brand with thought to his retirement. His appearance in a sarong, revelations that he used make-up and his eccentric hairstyles were all feverishly gobbled up by the UK's tabloid press. He also had to overcome the tag as England's "most-hated man" after being sent off during the 1998 World Cup in a knockout game against Argentina. Beckham is understood to have been on the verge of receiving a knighthood after helping London win its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. But UK authorities placed a red flag on his nomination due to his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme, according to previous reports. He was subsequently cleared. – AFP
Sinar Daily
10 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Chris Martin, Dakota Johnson call it quits after eight years
Sources say "it feels final this time". By DANIAL HAKIM 05 Jun 2025 12:45pm Chris Martin, 48, and Dakota Johnson, 35, began dating in 2017, keeping much of their relationship out of the public eye. Photo: Instagram AFTER nearly eight years of low-key romance filled with sweet public moments, secret engagement rumours, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Fifty Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson have reportedly parted ways and this time, sources say, it's for Martin, 48, and Dakota Johnson, 35, began dating in 2017, keeping much of their relationship out of the public couple were last seen together on May 16, 2025, during a casual outing in Malibu, a location they have called home since a few months prior, in January, Johnson was spotted holding hands with Martin in India while he was touring with their private nature, the pair offered rare glimpses into their bond."We've been together for quite a while, and we go out sometimes, but we both work so much that it's nice to be at home and be cozy and private.'Most of the partying takes place inside my house," Johnson shared in a 2021 interview with Elle love story even crossed into the music world when Martin publicly dedicated Coldplay's chart-topping hit My Universe to Johnson during a London concert. 'This is about my universe, and she's here,' Martin said, pointing to Johnson in the audience. Though engagement speculation first emerged in 2020, People reported in March 2024 that the couple had actually been engaged "for years" but were in "no rush to get married."However, their relationship was far from picture-perfect as breakup rumours surfaced in August rep denied the rumours at the time, calling them 'nothing but a false alarm,' and other insiders insisted the couple were 'happily together.'However, by June 4, multiple sources confirmed the split, with one stating bluntly that 'it feels final this time.'Over the years, Johnson built a close relationship with Martin's children from his previous marriage to Gwyneth Paltrow, daughter Apple and son Moses.'I love those kids like my life depends on it. With all my heart,' she expressed in a candid interview in also gushed about watching Martin perform on-stage. Dakota Johnson is set to star in the upcoming Materialists alongside Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal, in theatres June 13. Photo: Instagram / @materialists 'I don't know. I love watching him. I could watch him every day. I don't know how to explain it. I feel like, I don't know... I'm watching my most favourite being do his most favorite thing,' she reflections on love and relationships in general grew even more candid while promoting her upcoming film Materialists, in theatres June 13.'For a long time we've all been so quick to judge relationships or how they should happen. When people should get married. Divorce is bad.'Why is divorce bad? Why do people have to get married at a certain age or only once? Why? It doesn't matter,' Johnson said in a recent their relationship may have reportedly ended, both Martin and Johnson continue to soar band Coldplay is still riding the wave of their blockbuster Music of the Spheres tour, which topped Billboard's Top Tours chart in April 2025 after raking in over $67.4 million in Asia alone. The band's latest album Moon Music debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard meanwhile, is preparing for the release of Materialists, where she stars alongside Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. Despite the breakup, she remains a fixture in Hollywood, known for her enigmatic charm on-screen and an ever-evolving career.
Sinar Daily
10 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
'Squid Game' Season 3: Ultimate showdown between Gi-hun, front man
The upcoming season, the director's favourite in his own words, will conclude the entire story of "Squid Game," where the narrative reaches the ultimate depths of despair. 14 Jun 2025 01:02pm The upcoming season, the director's favourite in his own words, will conclude the entire story of "Squid Game," where the narrative reaches the ultimate depths of despair. - Photo source: Netflix SEOUL - The third -- and final -- season of the global sensational hit "Squid Game" seeks to pose a fundamental question of whether human beings can create a better world for future generations, its director said on Monday, offering exploration rather than definitive answers, Yonhap News Agency reported. "Amidst the intense competition of capitalist society, I wanted this work to ask, 'Can humans build a better world? Can we leave a sustainable one for future generations?" series creator, writer and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk said at a press conference promoting the new season in Seoul. Actor Lee Jung-jae, who portrayed the main protagonist Gi-hun, noted the series' ability to seamlessly weave "its big theme with small individual stories" as a key reason for its success. - AFP file photo "Over the last five years, we've dedicated our utmost efforts to create this show. In the finale, it will feature a confrontation between Gi-hun and the Front Man over their fundamental beliefs about humanity and their respective worldviews," he said. "You can consider it a showdown of their core values." The upcoming season, the director's favourite in his own words, will conclude the entire story of "Squid Game," where the narrative reaches the ultimate depths of despair. Specifically, it will depict Gi-hun's struggle to find his way back from the desperation he faces following the death of his best friend, Jung-bae, in the deadly games, according to the director. He has previously said he wanted to explore the very end of despair, where even those holding onto the faintest glimmers of hope see them shattered. "When all hope is extinguished and only despair remains -- what lies beyond that?" he asked. Actor Lee Jung-jae, who portrayed the main protagonist Gi-hun, noted the series' ability to seamlessly weave "its big theme with small individual stories" as a key reason for its success. "I found it fascinating that fans both at home and abroad each have their own favourite characters," he said at the conference. "I am so proud of connecting with audiences over such a long-running series. I can't wait to see viewers' reactions to the new season." Lee Byung-hun, who played the Front Man, attributed the drama's political and social insight to its profound resonance with global audiences. "The reason this series is so much loved in so many countries with different cultures and languages is because they all connect with the messages it offers." The director, who called the show's success "miraculous," plans to leverage the experience and knowledge gained from "Squid Game" for his next endeavour. "While we all start new projects hoping for success, achieving this level is something else entirely. Everything I've learned during the production of this series will be a cornerstone for what I do next," he said. Much to the disappointment of the series' avid fans, Hwang ruled out a fourth season, but he did leave the door open for a potential spin-off. "I have no plan for Season 4, but I do have a plan for a movie in my head right now," he said. "Also, if an opportunity arises, I am open to a spin-off." "Squid Game" Season 3 is set for release on June 27. - BERNAMA-YONHAP
