Blessed be the day when I scrolled to the nines and chanced upon what I anoint as one of the best Instagram accounts these days. Meet Aki And Koichi (@akiandkoichi) on the ‘gram – their fit checks will put major fashion influencers to shame. They’re a retired couple living their best life, dressed in cult pieces from Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, Loewe and the likes.
From an accidental bout with virality, after their social media savvy daughter posted a video of the two, they’ve been consistently posting fit checks on the platform and have amassed a devoted following. Having cracked deals with Loewe and Levi’s, they’re keen on working with Louis Vuitton next. So Pharrell Williams, let’s make it happen.
We had the chance to interact with this wholesome couple and acquaint ourselves with their marriage, personal style and path to content creation and yes, they’re really THAT cute, even with their responses.
ELLE: Tell us about your marriage and how the two of you met.
Aki and Koichi: We’ve been together for over four decades and met right here in Los Angeles! We were friends first, and that strong foundation is the secret to our lasting relationship. We not only love each other but genuinely enjoy each other’s company, which we believe is essential to a happy marriage. Liking your partner is just as important as loving your partner.
ELLE: How did you get to shoot the first video? Was it a conscious decision or did it start as something fun?
Aki and Koichi: This whole journey started unexpectedly. Our daughter filmed us for fun and posted it on TikTok without thinking much of it. The next day, we woke up to a viral video. We had no idea what that even meant until then. Yuri has been in the social media world for 14 years, which is part of the reason why this has been a success. She has been taking the reigns and has been handling everything from filming to editing and posting. We’re just the faces in front of the camera. It’s been a wild ride.
ELLE: What are your favourite brands and how would the two of you describe your personal styles?
Aki: I love unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. I love Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, Junya Watanabe, and recently have been into INJIRI (they have such beautiful pieces!)
Koichi: I’m more classic and simple. I love Warehouse, Evisu, BEAMS, and A.P.C.
ELLE: What would be a dream brand collab for you two?
Aki and Koichi: We’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with some incredible brands. Our daughter Yuri thinks a partnership with Louis Vuitton would be amazing, especially now that Pharrell is leading the menswear division.
ELLE: Who decides the outfits? Do you have a stylist, do you source, is it thrifted or do you own the pieces?
Aki and Koichi: We style ourselves with input from Yuri, who really understands our personal styles. All the clothes we wear are ours, and while some are from collaborations, we’ve always loved expressing ourselves through fashion.
ELLE: Ageism in fashion is facing fierce competition all thanks to you two. What’s your hope for the future of fashion for folks in your age bracket?
Aki and Koichi: We hope to inspire everyone our age to embrace their style and have fun with fashion. Life is full of ups and downs, but we want to show people that age is just a number and it’s never too late to start something new and exciting.
ELLE: Who are your personal fashion icons who shaped your sense of style?
Aki: Issey Miyake’s innovative designs have always inspired me. But mostly, I just dress based on how I feel. It’s hard to explain – I know what I like when I see it.
Koichi: My dad had classic style, and I’ve always admired how James Dean could make something as simple as jeans and a white T-shirt look cool.
