Japanese photographer-writer Keisuke Jinushi fascinates the internet with his ingenious social media strategy. Making clever use of props, a wig and some digital magic, the 39-year-old creates incredibly realistic photos of herself with an 'imaginary girlfriend'.
“I've been applying foundation to my hand and wearing nail polish to mimic the soft, shiny hand of a woman, and it works perfectly if you put a scrunchie on your wrist,” Jinushi explained in an interview with the Nishinippon Shimbun.
Jinushi, a graduate of Musashino Art University with a degree in film and visual arts, revealed that the inspiration for his idea came during a solo trip when he posed with a statue of a woman. “Then it dawned on me that I could take pictures of happy couples all by myself,” he said.
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Jinushi's posts, which are widely shared on social media, have struck a chord with single men and encouraged them to create their own “happy photo stories.” His inventive photography techniques have been collected in a book entitled Fantasy girlfriendwhich playfully describes a fictional journey of meeting, getting married and starting a family with his imaginary partner.
While many praise his creativity, others see his work as a reflection on Japan's otaku culture, a subculture often associated with a passionate interest in anime or manga and sometimes linked to social isolation. Critics have expressed concern that such practices could increase feelings of loneliness.
Similar viral trends have emerged on platforms like Xiaohongshu and Weixin, including one woman painting her hand to simulate a friend's darker skin tone and another using silicone abs to create the illusion of a male partner.
