News Nagoya Municipality selling off manhole covers for ¥3,000 apiece

[thomas]

Don't they make nice souvenirs?

Nagoya City is putting 10 old maintenance hole covers up for sale, including three created for the World Design Exposition held in the city in 1989. The covers feature elaborate designs and have attracted attention in recent years as a form of "art at your feet". All of the covers sold were manufactured between 1989 and 2021 and were removed during roadworks and other construction projects. he city first began selling retired covers in fiscal 2020, and this marks the third round of sales. Officials said the covers are priced at ¥3,000 (about $19) each in the hope they will be reused rather than discarded.

The covers commemorating the World Design Exposition feature two pigeons facing each other and silhouettes of Nagoya's landmarks. They were also sold in the previous round, with some drawing more than 150 applicants for a single cover. Other designs include a water strider, the image character of the city's Waterworks and Sewerage Bureau; a cover with small circles known as the "Nagoya City type"; and those with an anti-slip function. Buyers must agree not to use the covers for commercial purposes.

Step right up: Nagoya selling old drain covers for reuse - The Mainichi

NAGOYA -- The Nagoya Municipal Government is selling 10 maintenance hole covers made between 1989 and 2021, including three designed to commemorate th

mainichi.jp

使用済みマンホールふたを販売します！-足元の芸術を手に入れるチャンス-（令和８年５月24日（日曜日）申込期限）

名古屋市上下水道局公式ホームページ

www.water.city.nagoya.jp

 

[mdchachi]

Maybe a screen printing company could use them. People in Detroit (and probably elsewhere) make t-shirts from manhole covers.

 

[thomas]

I just realised I took a pic of one of them in 2013:

Nagoya Manhole Cover

• thomas
• 22 Feb 2013
• manhole nagoya

Nagoya Manhole Cover

Thread 'Nagoya manhole covers'

22 Feb 2013

Japanese cities are famous for their wide variety of manhole covers, some of which are truly well-designed and outstanding (in a metaphorical sense). If I remember correctly, there's even a website listing manhole covers from all over Japan.

We found the following type of manhole covers in Nagoya and wondered if anyone is aware of the deeper meaning behind those smiling insects, most likely some sort of locust...?

Nagoya Manhole Cover

• thomas
• 22 Feb 2013
• manhole nagoya

Nagoya Manhole Cover

• thomas
• Replies: 9
• Forum: All Things Japanese

• 

 

[mdchachi]

That's one of the ones I thought would be a good t-shirt option. At least for those that like stylized designs of gokiburi.

 

[thomas]

That's one of the ones I thought would be a good t-shirt option. At least for those that like stylized designs of gokiburi.

It's a water strider.

I was tempted to enter the lottery for a water strider cover. The problem is, you have to arrange transportation yourself. They weigh up to 50kg.

 

[mdchachi]

It's a water strider.

I was tempted to enter the lottery for a water strider cover. The problem is, you have to arrange transportation yourself. They weigh up to 50kg.

I thought it was a butterfly given the design behind it. But that makes more sense.

Nagoya put water insect designs (specifically water striders, called amenbo in Japanese) on its manhole covers to symbolize the purity of its water. Water striders can only live in clean, unpolluted water, so their presence serves as a natural indicator of water quality.

So if you ever see a bunch of bugs walking around on the water you should grab a cup and drink it. Is that the proper conclusion?

 

[thomas]

So if you ever see a bunch of bugs walking around on the water you should grab a cup and drink it. Is that the proper conclusion?

I would assume so, as long as you do not swallow the water striders.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Weird death here the other day. A vehicle ran over a manhole cover and knocked it all the way off. A woman getting out of her car didn't hear or notice it. She stepped out of her car and fell in , getting killed in the fall.

 

[mdchachi]

Weird death here the other day. A vehicle ran over a manhole cover and knocked it all the way off. A woman getting out of her car didn't hear or notice it. She stepped out of her car and fell in , getting killed in the fall.

I almost mentioned that earlier. Unfortunately she didn't get killed in the fall. She died a very painful death from scalding water and steam. It took long enough for people to hear her dying screams.