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
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Picturesque Tokyo park plays host to millions of flowers and soap bubbles this spring
Starbucks Japan has a secret coffee press service that not many people know about
Starbucks Japan adds new Sencha Matcha Tea Frappuccino to its menu, but only at 28 locations
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Ramen restaurant in top Tokyo tourist neighborhood skips price gouging, but how does it taste?
Japan’s favorite sandwich pockets now come with sakura filling, but how do they taste?[Taste test]
Never been into a girl’s room before? Then this reference photo book is for you
Haunted hospital near Mt Fuji re-opens after renovation at Fuji-Q Highland, and it’s terrifying
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
7-Eleven Japan releases a crazy new viral sandwich: Chocolate Sprinkles and Whipped Cream
Japan now has a “for foreign tourists only” Mt. Fuji sightseeing train[Video]
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases the My Neighbour Totoro tea caddy, with a magical self-closing lid
Create a tiny Ghibli anime world on your bookshelf with new miniature papercraft art kits
Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
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
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says