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Awesome Japanese teacher creates Studio Ghibli chalkboard art to celebrate students’ graduation

Casey Baseel Mar 3, 2017
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Annual tradition is more beautiful than ever this year.

Education in Japan is often characterized as having very little interaction between students and their teachers. Traditionally, the instructor lectures and the students listen and take notes, with far less discussion and debate than is often present in, for example, American classrooms.

However, that shouldn’t be taken to say that all teachers in Japan are emotionally standoffish or fail to develop a bond with the children they teach. Take, for example, Japanese schoolteacher and Twitter user @hamacream. With the academic year winding down, @hamacream wanted to say goodbye to his graduating students in a special way, and so to celebrate the milestone he created this beautiful work of chalkboard art featuring the star of classic Studio Ghibli anime Kiki’s Delivery Service.

おちこんだりもするだろうけれど、みなさんおげんきで。#黒板アート #魔女の宅急便 pic.twitter.com/YRbTXCIWGC

— はまー (@hamacream) February 28, 2017

This isn’t the first time @hamacream has put his artistic skills to use in brightening his students’ day. In December he marked the end of the year with some chalk-based Totoro art.

▼ So many Totoros!

とにもかくにも黒板から多くの恩恵を受けた2016年。正確には黒板の向こう側にいる「人」との出会いに恵まれていました。ただの"黒板の人”で終わらないよう、恩師の背中に少しでも近づけるよう、来年も一生懸命頑張ります。今年も本当にありがとうございました。皆様、良いお年を。 pic.twitter.com/0TTk8oZWJw

— はまー (@hamacream) December 31, 2016

▼ An alternate angle, shared by hamacream through his Instagram account.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hirotaka Hamasaki (@hamacream)

The talented teacher also pitched in by recreating an iconic scene from anime phenomenon Your Name for the school’s culture festival last autumn.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hirotaka Hamasaki (@hamacream)

But while the Your Name chalkboard was a special request from his students, it seems that hamacream’s graduation presents are an annual tradition. Last year, The Little Mermaid’s Areil and Flounder offered their congratulations to the graduating class…

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hirotaka Hamasaki (@hamacream)

…and the year before that, Sanrio’s Little Twin Stars Kiki and Lala did the honors.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hirotaka Hamasaki (@hamacream)

But that’s not to say hamacream is only concerned with animation and pop culture art. On the contrary, he’s also shown an appreciation for old masters such as da Vinci and Hokusai.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hirotaka Hamasaki (@hamacream)

But while hamacream’s artwork has won him tons of admiration online, he’s staying humble even after achieving Internet fame. In the same tweet in which he showed his Totoro chalkboard art, he said:

“Honestly, I’ve been blessed to meet all of the people who sat in front of this chalkboard. I won’t let myself be satisfied just being a good chalkboard artist, and in the coming year I’ll continue to do all I can to get even a little closer to being as good of a teacher as the teachers who taught me.”

A beautiful sentiment, from someone who creates beautiful art.

Source: IT Media, Twitter/@hamacream