2016/09/03

art in daily life - Japan's manhole covers

The Japan Times publised a story about local government making special designs for their covers.
It began in the 1980s to improve the public image about sewage systems! Perhaps the 12,000 images are online by now, but if you are in Japan then you can request a set of collector's cards.

[excerpt from news story]

...Ishii's is among a growing legion of hobbyists enchanted by what he sees as the beauty manhole cover design. Enthusiasts are taking to social networking services such as Twitter and Instagram to share their joy, and the photos fly back and forth.


"They are works of art. The designs embody details and subtlety of the Japanese aesthetic," said Hideto Yamada, a leader with Gesuido Koho Purattofomu (Sewerage Promotion Platform), a group of professionals and enthusiasts that includes officials from local governments and the infrastructure ministry's sewage management department.


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