It’s only his hobby, but this grandpa is good enough to become a professional.
Japanese Twitter has taken it upon itself to expound on the talents of the country’s grandparents, and we are all about it. Skilled musicians, aspiring linguists, and hardcore gamers are just some of the talented elderly citizens who have recently been celebrated on Twitter, and for good reason. They’re good at what they do!
Just like Twitter user Tsume (@raw_ttkn)’s grandpa, whose beautiful ink paintings are so good that they look like they’ve been in the ceiling of Zushouin Temple in Izunokuni, Shizuoka, forever, even though they were only recently donated.
▼ “My grandfather’s ink paintings, which he does as a hobby, were donated to a local temple, and they’ve become beautiful ceiling art, so please take a look.”
祖父が趣味で描いた墨絵が近くのお寺に寄贈されて、素晴らしい天井画になったので見て欲しい pic.twitter.com/8JsQbzFKNv
— つめ (@raw_ttkn) February 1, 2019
The paintings, of which there are at least six dozen, are all painted with ink on gold backgrounds and feature different kinds of flowers and seasonal plants. There are chrysanthemums, sunflowers, maple leaves, roses, and of course cherry blossoms, among many others, and each one is beautifully luminescent in whites and grays in its own square of the gilded ceiling.
Tsume’s grandfather has also painted numerous other lovely works of art in ink as well, which were recently on display in a solo exhibition near the man’s hometown. All of these paintings are made with ink on white paper, using various levels of thickness in the ink to get the desired shades of gray and black.
▼ Especially of note is the second image of the piano, which Tsume’s grandfather painted after hearing the story of a kamikaze pilot who loved to play the piano.
祖父の他の作品も見て下さい…!
— つめ (@raw_ttkn) February 3, 2019
色紙に、墨の濃淡のみで描いています。
1:牡丹
2:ピアノの話…ピアノが好きだった青年が、特攻隊に行く話を聞き描いたそうです
3:酒の精…酒の酵母を顕微鏡で見た時のもの。元々祖父は酵母の研究をしてました。
4:地元でセルフ個展をした時の様子 pic.twitter.com/fy3Yskw757
Japanese Twitter was, naturally, smitten with this grandfather’s work, and responses to Tsume’s tweets were unanimous in praise for the gentleman’s talent:
“It’s so beautiful that I wouldn’t be surprised if they were designated as national treasures.”
“I’d love to visit that temple! It’s just so beautiful!”
“Amazing!”
“Gorgeous flower ceiling! The people who visit that temple will be happy.”
“That’s not the level of a hobby. It’s really beautiful!”
“‘Fantastic!’ is what I thought right away. I want to see it in real life.”
Add us to this grandpa’s list of fans, because those are some truly outstanding pieces. We’re just as impressed with his monochrome paintings as we were with this granny’s colorful landscapes, and that’s really saying something.
Source: Twitter/@raw_ttkn via Togetch
Featured Image: Twitter/@raw_ttkn

Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Is Tokyo Station’s startlingly expensive wagyu bento boxed lunch worth its high price?[Taste test]
Sakura Festival in Chiyoda mixes illuminations, boats, music, and Rilakkuma in the heart of Tokyo
Lawson adds doughnuts to its convenience store sweets range, but are they good enough to go viral?
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Is Tokyo Station’s startlingly expensive wagyu bento boxed lunch worth its high price?[Taste test]
Sakura Festival in Chiyoda mixes illuminations, boats, music, and Rilakkuma in the heart of Tokyo
Lawson adds doughnuts to its convenience store sweets range, but are they good enough to go viral?
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Okinawa airport’s must-eat Pork Tamago Onigiri finally opens a branch in Tokyo!【Taste test】
Colorized photos of old-timey Philippines bring the past to life
Zelda isn’t the Nintendo anime adaptation Japanese fans want to see most, survey says
Nintendo launches awesome, free Super Mario Wallpaper Maker website for PCs and smartphones
Which convenience store onigiri rice balls are the most popular? Survey reveals surprising results
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japanese restaurant chain serves Dragon Ball donuts and Senzu Beans this spring
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 1]
Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
Japan’s craziest burger chain takes menchi katsu to new extreme levels
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 2]
Japan has only one airport named after a samurai, so let’s check out Kochi Ryoma【Photos】
Japanese drugstore sells onigiri at pre-stupid era prices, but how do they compare to 7-Eleven?
Viral Japanese cheesecake from Osaka has a lesser known rival called Aunt Wanda
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
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
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
Okinawa airport’s must-eat Pork Tamago Onigiri finally opens a branch in Tokyo!【Taste test】
Colorized photos of old-timey Philippines bring the past to life
Zelda isn’t the Nintendo anime adaptation Japanese fans want to see most, survey says
Nintendo launches awesome, free Super Mario Wallpaper Maker website for PCs and smartphones
Which convenience store onigiri rice balls are the most popular? Survey reveals surprising results
Draw like a Studio Ghibli anime artist with exclusive watercolour set approved by Hayao Miyazaki
Jamiroquai doll from Japan lets you control your own Virtual Insanity 【Video】
Okinawa soul food: We try the most epic pork and egg onigiri rice balls in Japan
Chance to play Tetris on a massive staircase in Kyoto Station coming in March
How to make curry in a rice cooker with zero prep work and no water[Recipe]
Japanese drugstore sells onigiri at pre-stupid era prices, but how do they compare to 7-Eleven?
How to speak Japanese like a gyaru【2024 edition】