An annual contest called Kokuban Art Koshien encourages high school students across Japan to produce collaborative chalk drawings on classroom blackboards during summer break.
The contest, which began in 2015, draws entries from about 300 high schools and junior high schools. Works are created collaboratively by one or two students up to dozens, with themes including dinosaurs, manga scenes, Hokusai’s Mount Fuji and everyday moments such as an underwater classroom.
Nichigaku Co., a Tokyo-based blackboard maker, organizes the event. Judging relies on photographs because the blackboards cannot be moved, and winners will be announced in November. Art teacher Kazunari Minamishima said the format allows students to be more experimental than with oil painting or sculpture.
Student Chiho Ninomiya, taking part for the first time at Kumagaya Girls' High School, described the activity as a way to build relationships with classmates. Former participant Kento Misumi, now working at Nichigaku, recalled the challenge of reconciling differing opinions among collaborators.