You’ve probably seen Aki and Koichi Kim — an effortlessly stylish Japanese American couple in their 70s — while scrolling, and marveled at the chic outfits and undeniable charm that made them unexpected fashion icons. But their story runs deeper than style. With help from their daughter, Yuri Kim, the two have turned their viral fame into a heartfelt, multigenerational family project that redefines aging and caregiving. (For the full interview, watch the video above.)
Aki and Koichi’s outfit-of-the-day videos have evolved into a global comfort watch, earning them more than 1 million Instagram followers and over 17 million TikTok likes.
“Everywhere we go, young guys and young girls come up to us [and say], ‘Thank you so much. We are so much encouraged by your daily outfit,’” Koichi, 74, says. “It’s not only fashion, but they said that, ‘Your smile and your energy we feel.’”
Perhaps it’s the decades-long love story behind it all that conjures that energy. Aki and Koichi met nearly 40 years ago in Los Angeles through Koichi’s martial arts instructor. But not long after, Koichi moved to Iowa to study medicine. It would be nearly a decade before they saw each other again.
Instead, they wrote each other letters to stay in touch. “That time, no internet and anything, just writing,” says Aki, who’s now 72.
