If you have ever visited Japan, you might have noticed something unusual underfoot as you walk the streets: colourful and intricate manhole covers. Simply put, they’re works of art. The colourful metal discs usually depict various aspects of the local culture, history, and nature, often sources of local pride.
Design and production of Japanese manhole covers is a big industry, and entire fan bases have risen to appreciate the many forms. Usually designed to reflect on their own cultural identity, these are not just ordinary pieces of metal, but expressions of pride for each city and town in Japan.
The Origin of Japanese Manhole Covers
In the 1950’s, Japan embarked on a massive project to upgrade its sewer system as it sought to modernise after WW2. By the 1980’s, only an estimated 60% of Japanese people were connected to the sewer system. For many residents, the project felt costly and disruptive, so the civil servant Yasutake Kameda from the construction ministry came up with an idea to encourage locals to be excited about the sewer upgrade project. He created decorative manhole covers that would feature local motifs and symbols unique to each place.
The first custom designs were Tokyo’s sakura (cherry blossom) manhole cover (still widely found across Tokyo) and Nagoya’s water strider design. These manhole covers were used in other parts of the country as well, which explains why they still appear so far away from Tokyo. Over time, more and more municipalities started to commission their own unique designs, which became ever more intricate and colourful.
The Variety and Beauty of Japanese Manhole Covers
According to the Japanese Society of Manhole Covers, there are over 6,000 different kinds of manhole covers in Japan. They have various types of utilities such as storm drains, water supply, electricity, gas, and telecommunications. Most are made of heavy cast iron, which is durable and easy to mould. To create the colourful designs, a durable resin or paint is poured into the template to create the vibrant end result.
The designs of Japanese manhole covers are often inspired by the local culture, history, and nature, and are often brightly coloured and cute, to capture the public’s imagination. Here are a few examples of the amazing manhole covers found throughout Japan:
In the city of Hakodate, the most common manhole cover is a squid design, an homage to the squid fishing industry of Hakodate.
In the city of Yamaguchi, the manhole covers celebrate the SL Yamaguchi train service, a classic steam train that departs from the city.
Over on the island of Shikoku, Naruto City displays the Naruto whirlpools, a natural phenomenon that creates a fantastic vortex as the Pacific Ocean meets the Seto Inland sea.
One performance art displayed in the metal of a manhole cover is that of Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo, a form of puppet theatre originating in Tokyo.
Tama City’s manhole covers have Hello Kitty on them, as it is the home of the Sanrio Puroland amusement park.
In the town of Kusatsu, known for its hot springs, their manhole covers depict the traditional Yumomi (‘water-beating’) ritual.
Hiroshima’s manhole covers depict paper cranes, honouring the story of Sadako Sasaki and the 1,000 paper cranes.
Light Up LED Manhole Covers
In the city of Tokorozawa, Saitama prefecture are manhole covers that light up at night with the help of LEDs to create spectacular light displays. They are designed after popular anime characters, and are lined up along the road from Higashi-Tokorozawa Station to Tokorozawa Sakura Town. Some anime series depicted are Overlord, Record of Lodoss War, and Spice and Wolf.
The Popularity and Appreciation of Japanese Manhole Covers
Because of their great designs, Japanese manhole covers have attracted a lot of attention and admiration from both domestic and international fans. The fan-run Japanese Society of Manhole Covers has a website that collects and catalogs the various designs from photographs. Many websites and social media accounts are dedicated to showcasing and sharing photos of these urban artworks.
Manhole Cover Trading Cards
With such a huge range of designs, inevitably a collecting game started up for fans (nicknamed ‘manholers’). Manhole cover trading cards are printed with a photo of the design, the meaning behind it, and geographic coordinates. The cards are produced by GKP (Gesuido Koho Platform), made up of officials from local governments and the sewage department of Japan’s Infrastructure Ministry.
They were first launched in April 2016 at a manhole summit in Tokyo, and new batches are introduced frequently. The cards are given away free to anyone who visits sewage plants or water treatment facilities, or sometimes at visitor information centers, or town halls.
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Far from being just functional ways to cover a sewer entrance, Japanese manhole covers are works of art in themselves. What’s more, they’re windows into the culture of a particular place in Japan. They are a way of expressing local identity and heritage, as well as promoting tourism and attractions. Japanese manhole covers represent the creativity and craftsmanship of the Japanese people, who can turn something mundane into something marvelous.
StickyMangoRice 