Aki and Koichi: The Internet's Most Stylish and Charming Couple Receives Recognition at the Instagram Rings Ceremony

The inaugural Instagram Rings awards ceremony, designed to honor content creators, took place in October. This prestigious award seeks to recognize individuals who foster positive trends and establish new benchmarks for online interaction, driving high levels of engagement. Recipients were presented with physical rings crafted by British designer Grace Wales Bonner, while a digital version—a golden circle surrounding their profile picture—appeared on their Instagram accounts. Only 25 individuals were selected for this honor from a global user base exceeding three billion. Among this exclusive group were the incredibly stylish Japanese-American couple, Aki and Koichi, both retirees over the age of 70.

The primary focus of their account, @akiandkoichi, is short videos showcasing their daily outfits, accompanied by heartfelt captions, endearing poses, and their signature turning move—a maneuver even their golden retriever dog has mastered. Their content stands in stark contrast to typical influencer fare; there are no flawless bodies in bikinis, no forced expressions, and no precarious cliffside photos. Despite this unconventional approach, they have amassed more than one million followers. The couple’s videos radiate warmth and genuine happiness—sentiments they actively hope to instill in their audience. "Every morning when we post, it lifts our spirits," Aki shared in an interview. This positivity generates a cycle of happiness, reflected in comments such as: "Watching them makes us smile all day."

Aki and Koichi are immigrants from Japan who first met in 1974. However, they did not marry until twelve years later, following a long friendship. Both shared a deep appreciation for fashion from their youth, though beautiful clothing was not a priority for them as impoverished international students. One of the most iconic pieces in Aki’s wardrobe is an Issey Miyake scarf, purchased back in the 1970s, which she still wears today. For Koichi, his prized possession is a Giorgio Armani suit, a garment he dreamed of owning and finally acquired after graduating from medical school and saving enough money.

Today, the couple is living life to the fullest. They travel extensively and dress in iconic pieces from major fashion houses, including Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, and Loewe. Their success has led to collaboration offers from well-known brands and even a personal invitation to a show hosted by Dior.

Their journey to internet stardom began unexpectedly when their daughter, Yuri, uploaded a video of her mother to her own account. The clip immediately garnered a flood of positive feedback from Yuri’s followers, many of whom praised Aki's distinctive style. The video quickly went "viral," though at the time, Aki and Koichi admitted they didn't even know what that term meant.

Although Yuri often handles the acquisition of new garments, Aki and Koichi remain the sole architects of their personal style. Aki gravitates toward unique, one-of-a-kind items, favoring designers such as Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, Junya Watanabe, and INJIRI. Conversely, Koichi prefers classic simplicity, selecting pieces from brands like Warehouse, Evisu, BEAMS, and A.P.C. "We hope to inspire everyone our age to embrace their style and find joy in fashion," Koichi stated during an interview.

Essentially, their social media presence operates as a family enterprise. The daughter manages the technical aspects—filming, editing, and publishing—while Aki and Koichi serve as the project's heart and public face. Their son handles the financial responsibilities. What truly distinguishes their content is the profound mutual affection and zest for life that shines through every photograph and video they share.

"The meaning of it all is that life is beautiful," Koichi reflected in a discussion. Aki added, "Life is short, so why not spend it well?" If this approach embodies the Japanese concept of *ikigai* (a reason for being), then it is certainly something the world could use more of.