Machiko Shimizu

Japanese writer and poet. Born 25th October 1947 in Saitama, Japan. On the 29th September 2025, Machiko passed away at home in England in her daughter’s arms after a short battle with cancer. Although Machi was born to Roku and Ruriko Shimizu in Saitama, her formative years were spent in Tokyo, Japan. An excellent writer, Machi went on to work at Gakken Publishing company as a children’s book editor and also a fashion magazine editor. Machi was an incredible poet, and her writing gave her amazing opportunities. She hosted a weekly show on Japanese television, reading her poems accompanied by a jazz quartet and her lyrics were used on successful television detective shows in the late 1960s/1970s. In 1970, Machi’s life became a lot more rock and roll when she met her future husband, Paul Rodgers. They married in 1971, she moved to the UK, setting up home in Guildford and Kingston.Twentyfive years later, in 1996, they divorced. Machi was effortlessly glamorous, and her beauty was especially striking. She was asked to model for Vogue (which she turned down) and was featured on a documentary about Chanel. Machi is survived by her son, Steve Rodgers and his children, and her daughter Jasmine Rodgers.