A Japanese hobbyist spent six months drawing a massive and complex maze on a wall-sized sheet of paper. Thankfully, he filmed the whole thing and set it to some catchy J-Pop for our viewing pleasure.
When we first saw this video of a hobbyist artist drawing up an enormous and complicated paper maze over the course of six months, we fully intended to skip around to quickly get to the finished product. Six and a half minutes later, we realized we’d been so mesmerized by the time-lapse footage — set to some retro game-inspired J-pop — that we watched the entire thing and would have gladly gone back for a second viewing,
Background info is a little lacking on this alternative work of art, but it’s pretty clear it isn’t the artist’s first crack at maze drawing. The huge endeavor, according to the video description and brief intermissions within the video, took six months of constant drawing in the artist’s free time.
The video first debuted on Japan’s Niconico Video a couple of days ago and has since been keeping Japanese viewers entranced ever since, but we went with the YouTube version below because, frankly, embedding Niconico stuff is a headache. Enjoy!
The clear drawing talent of the artist aside, a few questions do remain. Most burning, of course, being: Does this maze actually have a solution, or is it just a bunch of disconnected, maze-like lines? Either way, it’s clearly more productivity over a six-month period than we’ve ever displayed in our entire lives. Plus, the work becomes even more amazing when you consider the way the artist has separated parts of the maze into themed areas; some areas are geometric and squarish, while others are rounded and looping, and still others represent things like continents in their shape.
Be sure to stick around until the very end of the video, by the way. Instead of selling off the maze or framing it, the artist just goes ahead and burns the entire thing. Possibly because the artist didn’t want to have to solve the damn thing his/herself after spending six months just drawing it.
Source: YouTube/nana825763 h/t NariNari
Images: YouTube/nana825763
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Pizza Hut Japan’s new ie-kei ramen pizza is here and weird, but is it tasty too? [Taste test]
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Eastern Japan high school graduating class’s wallets robbed during ceremony
Japan’s budget chain restaurant Saizeriya might just be the perfect first date location
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Pizza Hut Japan’s new ie-kei ramen pizza is here and weird, but is it tasty too? [Taste test]
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Eastern Japan high school graduating class’s wallets robbed during ceremony
Japan’s budget chain restaurant Saizeriya might just be the perfect first date location
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Tokyo Metro adds platform display showing where least crowded parts of the next train will be
Naruto Shippuden x Maeda Coffee collaboration cafe event is coming to Kyoto this week
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Is Japan’s Crab-shaped Cup Ramen Timer worth the hype?
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Now is the time to visit one of Tokyo’s best off-the-beaten-path plum blossom gardens
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
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
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Tokyo Metro adds platform display showing where least crowded parts of the next train will be
Naruto Shippuden x Maeda Coffee collaboration cafe event is coming to Kyoto this week
Tiny house by Muji finally goes on sale in Japan
Hayao Miyazaki’s final TV anime gets popup shop in Tokyo opening this summer
Burger King Japan’s Ugly Burgers go head-to-head in a battle for flavour
Japan Super Budget Dining – What’s the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Doutor?
Getting a driver’s license in Japan the hard way: The first written test
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Tokyo to Kyushu by ferry: An epic 21-hour journey on the sea
Starbucks Japan’s Cream Puff Frappuccino is here! Did it make Friday the 13th lucky? [Taste test]
Getting a driver’s license in Japan the hard way: The first driving test again