
QR codes, with their seemingly arbitrary jumble of black and white squares, are popping up on all sorts of packaging and advertisements, allowing consumers to quickly and easily access a specific website on their smartphone. As common as they have become, we’ve never seen a QR code completely hand drawn on a chalkboard, but here we have one, carefully created by a student in Japan. The best part? The website it leads to is just as random as the decision to recreate a QR code using chalk.
As you saw in the photo above, it looks like a student is using the QR code reader on his phone to access the unknown website.
Additional photos reveal several other classmates doing the same. But what’s that site that popped up?
Could it be? No, we haven’t seen that fool in four months…
Well wouldn’t you know! The expertly drawn chalk QR code leads to the blog of disgraced politician, Ryutaro Nonomura; you know, the guy behind the cringeworthy sob-fest after it was revealed that he tried to pay for 106 visits to a Japanese hot spring with public funds.
▼ Yeah, that guy.
A random choice of sites, indeed, but we have to hand it to this clever student, he made us laugh out loud at the sight of Nonomura’s grinning face. Unfortunately, some netizens were not amused:
“I’ve never seen a bigger waste of talent.”
“What an idiot!”
“Why don’t you use your skill on something else?”
Are you kidding? This artist recreated a functional QR code with a piece of chalk! You can’t blame him if he wanted to use his powers for good and bring a little humor into the world. Even our own food artist, Mr. Sato, knows that you can’t always make conventional art; sometimes you just have to slap 1,050 strips of bacon together and call it a burger.
But even with all the people complaining about this student’s use of creative talent, the photos of the chalkboard QR code have already been retweeted over 27,000 times…we can’t even imagine how many hits Nonomura’s blog received these past few days. Seriously, go and check it out. You really can access Nonomura’s blog from your own smartphone using this QR code!
Not close enough for you? Here, how’s that?:
Score another one for Nonomura!







QR codes evolve into their newest form: a bar QR code!
QR codes and pop culture, what are you doing in my textbooks?
Budding Japanese student artists impress us with chalkboard works of art
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
“Good on the floor?” Five funny times Google Translate drops the ball with Japanese idioms
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
The perks of drinking root beer at A&W in Japan
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
“Bear” voted Japan’s Kanji of the Year for 2025 in extremely close race
Creator of Japanese manga Bleach searches for fan to thank him for his dying message
A Japanese dating app matched our bachelorette with a Buddhist monk, and she learned some things
Utada Hikaru sings incredible new one-take version of “First Love,” 26 years after original release
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Street Fighter Hadouken Churros to be launched and eaten in Tokyo, Okami pudding on offer too
Japanese woman mistaken for bear
Return of Totoro sequel short anime announced for Ghibli Park
Is this the most relaxing Starbucks in Japan?
Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Leave a Reply