7 ms·

Chalk of Champions [video]

68 points by collapse 7y ago

lqet 7y ago
So, I guess mathematicians hoarding original Hagoromo chalk now have to stop before they write down a theorem on the blackboard and ask themselves: is it chalk-worthy? [0] [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUkZdWnBTt0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUkZdWnBTt0
- amingilani 7y ago
  I can't believe I watched a 5½ minute video to get this joke, but it was worth it. I also learnt about a new contraception method. I love HN.
capnrefsmmat 7y ago
I use this in my office (well, the Korean replication that's still sold). I firmly believe that good chalk on an enameled steel chalkboard is far superior to a whiteboard: it always erases cleanly, the ink never runs out, it writes with high contrast, and it's immensely satisfying to write with. The only downside is chalk dust. By contrast, the cheap chalk the department buys for us is terrible. It squeaks, it snaps, it refuses to erase cleanly. And our conference room whiteboard markers are always dried up and don't write clearly. I have yet to turn into an illicit chalk dealer, though.
- jacobolus 7y ago
  > good chalk on an enameled steel chalkboard Try a real slate chalkboard sometime. It’s amazing. (But not as easy to slide up and down as the metal versions.)
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
evanb 7y ago
When I graduated I bought my PhD advisor two boxes. It's great stuff. But beyond how dense and smooth it is, particularly good is the colored chalk. Most colored chalk doesn't erase well. Hagoromo erases completely, easily.
youeseh 7y ago
This feels like part 1 of a 3 part series. In Part 2, we must visit Japan to learn about how it came to be and why it went out of business. And in Part 3, we go to S.Korea. We learn about the company thats producing chalk from the purchased recipe.
- downrightmike 7y ago
  The Japanese company went under because the owner was too old to carry on. Nice to see that someone else is taking it up.
  - youeseh 7y ago
    That is pretty amazing. He didn't pass it on to anyone... no underlings to continue the effort.
justanothersys 7y ago
I made loads of drawings with this chalk, it’s all true: https://drawings.rey.sc.jas.life/groups/blackboard https://drawings.rey.sc.jas.life/groups/blackboard
- inflatableDodo 7y ago
  Please make more. These are great :)
  - justanothersys 7y ago
    ty
keane 7y ago
The successor, Umajirushi DC Chalk, is available here from JetPens (San Jose, USA), $1.80 for 6 sticks, or 30¢ per stick (also available in a 72 pack like shown in the video) https://www.jetpens.com/Umajirushi-DC-Chalk/ct/3774 https://www.jetpens.com/Umajirushi-DC-Chalk/ct/3774 “The two well-established chalk makers Umajirushi and Hagoromo worked together to develop this chalk.” Thinking a six-pack might make a nice no-reason gift, to friends’ kids or my local baker or church who uses a chalkboard, I just placed an order.
new4thaccount 7y ago
Can someone recommend a good chalkboard to accompany the chalk that you could fit on your lap? Maybe 3 foot by 3 foot?
- CapitalistCartr 7y ago
  36" is about the maximum width that can fit, but 24" is about the maximum depth; after that it tips off your lap. For many people 18-22 is realistic. Something this size: https://m.staples.com/Flipside-Chalk-Board-24-x-36-Black/product_138982 https://m.staples.com/Flipside-Chalk-Board-24-x-36-Black/pro...
readingnews 7y ago
One day someone woke up and said "wow, those k cups are an environmental disaster"... I wonder if a similar thing will happen with dry erase markers. As a professor, I go through far more dry erase markers than chalk... When I am done with chalk there is just dust. Not sure if those dry things recycle, but no one I know puts them in the recycle bin. Also, there are very, very good chalks at jetpens from Japan still being made.
figure8 7y ago
Here's an interview with the company's founder: https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Hagoromo-president-explains-why-he-closed-down-his-beloved-chalk-business https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Hagoromo-presiden...
pontus 7y ago
I've considered buying a chalkboard for my home office, does anyone have a good recommendation for what brand to buy?

68 points by collapse 7y ago

lqet 7y ago

So, I guess mathematicians hoarding original Hagoromo chalk now have to stop before they write down a theorem on the blackboard and ask themselves: is it chalk-worthy? [0] [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUkZdWnBTt0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUkZdWnBTt0

amingilani 7y ago
I can't believe I watched a 5½ minute video to get this joke, but it was worth it. I also learnt about a new contraception method. I love HN.

capnrefsmmat 7y ago

I use this in my office (well, the Korean replication that's still sold). I firmly believe that good chalk on an enameled steel chalkboard is far superior to a whiteboard: it always erases cleanly, the ink never runs out, it writes with high contrast, and it's immensely satisfying to write with. The only downside is chalk dust. By contrast, the cheap chalk the department buys for us is terrible. It squeaks, it snaps, it refuses to erase cleanly. And our conference room whiteboard markers are always dried up and don't write clearly. I have yet to turn into an illicit chalk dealer, though.

jacobolus 7y ago
> good chalk on an enameled steel chalkboard Try a real slate chalkboard sometime. It’s amazing. (But not as easy to slide up and down as the metal versions.)
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

evanb 7y ago

When I graduated I bought my PhD advisor two boxes. It's great stuff. But beyond how dense and smooth it is, particularly good is the colored chalk. Most colored chalk doesn't erase well. Hagoromo erases completely, easily.

youeseh 7y ago

This feels like part 1 of a 3 part series. In Part 2, we must visit Japan to learn about how it came to be and why it went out of business. And in Part 3, we go to S.Korea. We learn about the company thats producing chalk from the purchased recipe.

downrightmike 7y ago
The Japanese company went under because the owner was too old to carry on. Nice to see that someone else is taking it up.
- youeseh 7y ago
  That is pretty amazing. He didn't pass it on to anyone... no underlings to continue the effort.

justanothersys 7y ago

I made loads of drawings with this chalk, it’s all true: https://drawings.rey.sc.jas.life/groups/blackboard https://drawings.rey.sc.jas.life/groups/blackboard

inflatableDodo 7y ago
Please make more. These are great :)
- justanothersys 7y ago
  ty

keane 7y ago

The successor, Umajirushi DC Chalk, is available here from JetPens (San Jose, USA), $1.80 for 6 sticks, or 30¢ per stick (also available in a 72 pack like shown in the video) https://www.jetpens.com/Umajirushi-DC-Chalk/ct/3774 https://www.jetpens.com/Umajirushi-DC-Chalk/ct/3774 “The two well-established chalk makers Umajirushi and Hagoromo worked together to develop this chalk.” Thinking a six-pack might make a nice no-reason gift, to friends’ kids or my local baker or church who uses a chalkboard, I just placed an order.

new4thaccount 7y ago

Can someone recommend a good chalkboard to accompany the chalk that you could fit on your lap? Maybe 3 foot by 3 foot?

CapitalistCartr 7y ago
36" is about the maximum width that can fit, but 24" is about the maximum depth; after that it tips off your lap. For many people 18-22 is realistic. Something this size: https://m.staples.com/Flipside-Chalk-Board-24-x-36-Black/product_138982 https://m.staples.com/Flipside-Chalk-Board-24-x-36-Black/pro...

readingnews 7y ago

One day someone woke up and said "wow, those k cups are an environmental disaster"... I wonder if a similar thing will happen with dry erase markers. As a professor, I go through far more dry erase markers than chalk... When I am done with chalk there is just dust. Not sure if those dry things recycle, but no one I know puts them in the recycle bin. Also, there are very, very good chalks at jetpens from Japan still being made.

figure8 7y ago

Here's an interview with the company's founder: https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Hagoromo-president-explains-why-he-closed-down-his-beloved-chalk-business https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Hagoromo-presiden...

pontus 7y ago

I've considered buying a chalkboard for my home office, does anyone have a good recommendation for what brand to buy?