The chalkboard of an old wooden school building is covered with illustrations of various fruits that change color with the seasons. The chalkboard art currently on display at the "Former Mashike Elementary School" in Mashike Town, Hokkaido, is attracting a lot of attention on social media. It is a special piece of artwork by an artist living in Hokkaido, depicting the local bounty in vibrant colors.

The poster is artist Takuya Yonezawa, who created this artwork, "Fruit Gradation." The many juicy fruits drawn across the blackboard create a stunning gradation, creating a truly striking effect. The post has been viewed over 460,000 times, with comments such as "The way the chalk powder creates a gradation is genius," and "It's so beautiful."

The blackboard art on the old school building has the theme of "fruits from the town."

"Fruit Gradation" is a work drawn on the blackboard of the former Mashike Elementary School.

The submitted artwork, "Fruit Gradation," will be on display every Sunday until the end of September 2025 at the former Mashike Elementary School, a large wooden school building in Mashike Town that is said to be the largest and oldest in Hokkaido.

The former Mashike Elementary School, which has been certified as a Hokkaido Heritage Site

This time, we interviewed Takuya Yonezawa, the creator of this artwork and the poster of X.

--What was the process behind the creation of this work, "Fruit Gradation," at the former Mashike Elementary School?

TAKUYA YONEZAWA (hereafter referred to as "no honorifics"): Actually, this is my second year participating in this event. Last year, I created a chalkboard art piece with the theme of "Sunsets seen in Mashike Town." This year, when I decided to participate in the chalkboard art piece and was thinking about the image of the piece, I decided, "Last year it was the sunset, so this year I'll create a piece with the theme of Mashike Town's fruits."

The production process of the work

TAKUYA YONEZAWA: One day, while I was thinking about an image, I was drawing the fruits that can be eaten in Masuhe in my sketchbook, and I realized, "In June there are strawberries (red), in July there are cherries (red-orange), and next there are peaches (yellow)...! If I arrange them according to the time they are picked, it creates a gradation!"

The blessings of nature are in gradation. This is interesting! This idea grew and grew, leading to this work, "Fruit Gradation," an imaginative paint that can be used to paint with the blessings of the season.

The thoughts behind the work "Fruit Gradation"

They all look delicious! Juicy fruits

--It's a really wonderful piece. It really conveys the deliciousness of Mashike Town's fruits.

TAKUYA YONEZAWA: The fruits of Mashike Town are incredibly delicious, and I enjoy nature's bounty every year. I didn't do it particularly on purpose, but I think the fruits look so delicious that they express my gratitude. I hope you can enjoy the gradations of nature that change with the seasons, and imagine the taste of the fruits as you look at them.

--I understand that Takuya Yonezawa is a painter living in Hokkaido. What kind of activities do you usually do?

TAKUYA YONEZAWA: He mainly presents his works on social media, and in recent years has been producing works mainly in the "Jewel of Paint" series. In the past, he has exhibited in galleries both in Japan and overseas, as well as at the Sapporo Art Park Museum.

I usually work under the theme of "Delivering excitement through art." This is true whether it's my regular drawings, my social media posts, or this blackboard art. I would be very happy if those who discover my outlet feel that art is interesting and fun!

For those who want to visit Mashike Town this summer

Mashike Town is full of attractions, including the former Mashike Station

--Thank you very much. Finally, please give a message to those who read this post and would like to visit the former Mashike Elementary School and Mashike Town!

TAKUYA YONEZAWA: The moment you enter the former Mashike Elementary School, you feel as if you have traveled back in time to another era. I would like everyone to experience the sensation of everything changing, from the scents to the sounds around you! It's "fun and nostalgic!"

One of the things to look forward to is eating Mashike's specialty, sweet shrimp rice bowl!

Mashike Town is a town where you can enjoy a variety of fruits and seafood depending on the season, and the alcohol is also delicious. You can also see beautiful sunsets in the evening, so be sure to check out your favorite season and come visit.