Many of us probably have elders at home—parents or grandparents—who harbor some incredible, hidden talents. Sometimes, as they get older, they just don't get the chance to show them off anymore.
A heartwarming story recently went viral on X (formerly Twitter) in Japan. A user shared a hand-drawn booklet their 75-year-old father created 50 years ago during a trip with friends. Every single stroke was done by hand, and it's captivated netizens, who are hailing the dad as a potential artist or manga creator.
The user lamented, "My dad's talent never really blossomed. Now he's just an old man who plays Solitaire all day, which is a bit melancholic." Back then, in his 20s, he could create something like this, yet he never worked in any art-related field, serving as a civil servant until retirement.
These "brochures" are entirely hand-drawn, exuding a strong Showa-era vibe. While the art style might be old-school, the layout and text are impeccably organized, clearly demonstrating a natural gift for drawing.
Netizens were instantly blown away by the photos. Comments poured in like: "The typography and layout are gorgeous! So many different fonts, yet it's not messy at all!" and "The lines are so clean, simple yet with a sense of depth—this is designer-level work." The sheer quality achieved through hand-drawing is truly admirable.
Beyond the lettering, the strong Showa aesthetic also struck a chord with users: "This is pure Showa!" "It's so cute and high-quality; the composition is beautiful and easy to read." "Even looking at it now, it doesn't feel outdated at all."
The user asked their dad about it, who explained he used an ink drafting pen and didn't really think much of it. When asked if he could still draw like that today, his dad's reply was priceless: "Of course not! Back then, I was trying hard to win your mom's affection, so I put all my effort into it. Now I don't need to impress anyone, so I can't draw like that anymore!"
Turns out, this dad's artistic prowess was apparently fueled by his quest to woo his future wife, LOL.
Through these hand-drawn pieces, netizens also felt the excitement of travel and the warmth of family, clearly seeing how much the dad anticipated the trip!
Given the dad's response, it seems chasing after a girl can really unleash one's hidden potential, huh? (?). Interestingly, the user's father now runs an X account where he uploads drawings he makes on a tablet, proving he's still got some serious skills!
via： togetter