
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
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
Japanese government ID card and app to be required for certain Pokémon card purchases next month
Studio Ghibli releases new Totoro coin purses…but who’s the blue character?
Tokyo’s Giga Mart lets visitors “steal” from a convenience store… if cameras don’t catch you
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Hiker needs to be rescued from Mt. Fuji two times in two days, but system is working as intended
Starbucks Japan adds shaved ice desserts to the menu at select locations
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japan’s new Calpis pudding: The right call for summer, or tampering with purin perfection?
Studio Ghibli brings anime characters to the table with new Totoro placemat that’s like a movie cell
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Japan reacts to Donald Trump’s “Islamic Republic of Japan” remark
Japanese airport rebrands itself as “Sushi Airport” to attract foreign tourists
Three new starter Pokémon Jets to fly in Japan, first begins carrying passengers this month
New Mt. Fuji overnight bus takes travelers from downtown Tokyo straight to the most popular hiking trail
Tokyo revises accommodation tax amidst tourism boom, Airbnb rentals now included
Yoshinoya and Dragon Quest slaying scalpers with shift to made-to-order collaboration merch
Tochigi man shares his family’s process for creating 16 years worth of rice paddy art
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
Sanrio Character Poll announces winners, Hello Kitty absent from top 10 in many countries
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
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa