The blackboard of an old wooden school building is covered with illustrations of various fruits that change color with the season. The blackboard art 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 work by a Hokkaido-based artist, depicting the local bounty in colorful illustrations.

The poster is Takuya Yonezawa, the artist who created this artwork, "Fruit Gradient." The blackboard is filled with many fresh fruits, which create a beautiful gradation that is impressive. The post has been viewed over 460,000 times, and has received 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 "town fruits."

"Fruit Gradation" is a piece of art painted on a blackboard at the former Mashike Elementary School.

The submitted art piece, "Fruit Gradient," 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 recognized as a Hokkaido Heritage Site

This time, we interviewed TAKUYA YONEZAWA, the creator of this artwork and the person who posted X.

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

TAKUYA YONEZAWA (hereafter referred to as "titles omitted"): Actually, this is my second year participating in this event. Last year, I created a blackboard art piece with the theme "The sunset seen in Mashike Town." This year, when I decided to participate in the blackboard art piece and was thinking about the image of the piece, I decided, "Since last year it was the sunset, this year I'll create a piece with the theme of Mashike Town's fruits."

The creative process

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

The bounty of nature is made into a gradation. I thought this was interesting! The idea grew and grew, and this work, "Fruit Gradation," is an imaginative paint that can be used to paint the bounty of the season.

The thoughts behind the work "Fruit Gradation"

They all look delicious! Juicy fruits

--This is a really wonderful piece. It really conveys how delicious the fruits of Mashike Town are.

TAKUYA YONEZAWA: The fruits in Mashike Town are so delicious, and I enjoy the bounty of nature every year. I didn't do it on purpose, but I think the gratitude I feel is coming out of the fruits I draw, because I was able to make them look so delicious. I hope you can look at the gradations of nature that change with the seasons and imagine the taste of the fruits.

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

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

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

For those who want to visit Mashike Town this summer

Mashike Town is full of things to see, including the former Mashike Station

--Thank you very much. Finally, please give a message to those who see 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 you 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 various fruits and seafood depending on the season, and the alcohol is also delicious. You can also see a beautiful sunset in the evening, so please check your favorite season and come visit.