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

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.

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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 said:

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.

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thomas said:

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.

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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.

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mdchachi said:

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?

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Grandpa Frank said:

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.

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