On the blackboard of an old wooden schoolhouse, a vibrant array of fruits, colored according to the season, fills the entire space. This blackboard art, on display at the Former Mashike Elementary School in Mashike Town, Hokkaido, is drawing significant attention on social media. It is a special work by a Hokkaido-based artist, vividly depicting the local bounty in rich colors.

The person who posted this is the artist himself, TAKUYA YONEZAWA, creator of the artwork “Fruit Gradation.” The piece is striking, with numerous luscious fruits drawn across the entire blackboard, forming a magnificent gradient. The post has been viewed over 460,000 times, garnering comments like, “The way the chalk dust creates the gradation is genius,” and “So incredibly beautiful.”

Blackboard Art in an Old Schoolhouse Themed on “The Town’s Fruits”

The artwork “Fruit Gradation” on the blackboard of the Former Mashike Elementary School

The artwork “Fruit Gradation” is on display at the Former Mashike Elementary School, said to be the largest and oldest large-scale wooden schoolhouse in Hokkaido. It is open to the public every Sunday until the end of September 2025.

The Former Mashike Elementary School, also a designated Hokkaido Heritage site

We had the opportunity to interview TAKUYA YONEZAWA, the artist behind this work and the original poster on X.

――How did the creation of your work at the Former Mashike Elementary School, “Fruit Gradation,” come about?

TAKUYA YONEZAWA (hereafter, honorifics omitted): Actually, this is my second year participating in this event. Last year, I created blackboard art with the theme of “The Sunset Seen in Mashike Town.” When it was decided that I would participate in the blackboard art event again this year, I was thinking about a concept and decided, “Last year was the sunset, so this year I’ll draw the fruits of Mashike Town.”

The creation process of the artwork

TAKUYA YONEZAWA: While brainstorming, I was sketching the fruits you can eat in Mashike in my sketchbook when I realized, “June is strawberries (red), July is cherries (red-orange), next is peaches (yellow)... Wait! If I arrange them by the season they’re harvested, they form a gradient!”

Nature’s bounty forms a gradient. I thought, “This is interesting!” and that sparked the idea, which grew and eventually led to this piece, “Fruit Gradation,” an imaginary paint set that lets you paint with the blessings of the seasons.

The Meaning Behind “Fruit Gradation”

They all look so delicious! A collection of luscious fruits.

――It’s a truly wonderful piece. It really conveys how delicious the fruits of Mashike Town are.

TAKUYA YONEZAWA: The fruits in Mashike are incredibly delicious, and I enjoy nature’s gifts every year. Although it wasn't a conscious effort, I think I was able to draw the fruits to look very appetizing, and perhaps my gratitude for them came through in the art. I hope people will view it while imagining the taste of the fruits and seeing the natural gradient that changes with the seasons.

――We heard you are a painter based in Hokkaido. What kind of work do you usually do?

TAKUYA YONEZAWA: I primarily showcase my work on social media, and in recent years, I've been focusing on my “Jewels of Paint” series. In the past, I have exhibited my work in galleries both in Japan and internationally, including at the Sapporo Art Museum.

My theme has always been “Delivering excitement through art.” This applies to the pieces I always create, my social media posts, and this blackboard art. If someone who discovers my work feels that art is interesting or fun, that would make me incredibly happy!

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. Lastly, do you have a message for those who saw your post and want to visit the Former Mashike Elementary School and Mashike Town?

TAKUYA YONEZAWA: The moment you step into the Former Mashike Elementary School, you feel like you've time-traveled to another era. The scent, the surrounding sounds—everything changes. I really want people to experience that feeling! It's “fun-stalgic”!

Enjoying Mashike's specialty, the “Sweet Shrimp Rice Bowl,” is another highlight!

Mashike is a town where you can savor various fruits, seafood, and delicious sake depending on the season. You can also see beautiful sunsets in the evening, so I recommend looking up your favorite season and coming for a visit.