Nagoya manhole covers

thomas

Unswerving cyclist

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14 Mar 2002

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• 22 Feb 2013

• #1

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

 

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

Twenty-year veteran

15 Mar 2002

16,758

2,298

• 22 Feb 2013

• #2

NAGOYA CITY I LOVE NAGOYA

 

thomas

Unswerving cyclist

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14 Mar 2002

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• 22 Feb 2013

• Thread starter
• #3

Thanks Mike! So they are アメンボ類 (water striders), not locusts.

 

Davey

先輩

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5 Feb 2005

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• 22 Feb 2013

• #4

I love these kind of covers! Back in Holland they are all the same. I will try to make some photos of the once in here.

 

zoomingjapan

Japan Travel Expert

18 Jun 2012

274

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• 22 Feb 2013

• #5

I have a HUUUUGE collection of manhole cover photos as I've travelled to al 47 prefectures in Japan and always take photos of those.
I find them very beautiful, especially the colored ones!



This one os from Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture.

 

thomas

Unswerving cyclist

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14 Mar 2002

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• 22 Feb 2013

• Thread starter
• #6

I think we should probably create a new category devoted to manhole covers in the gallery.

Nice one, ZJ, feel free to share.

 

Davey

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5 Feb 2005

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• 22 Feb 2013

• #7

zoomingjapan! Thanks for posting that one, love it!

Feel free to add some to the gallery (you could watermark them )

 

zoomingjapan

Japan Travel Expert

18 Jun 2012

274

49

• 23 Feb 2013

• #8

Here's another one from Kawaguchiko (Yamanashi Pref.) with Mt. Fuji in the background:



Feel free to use them - just don't remove the watermark!

I'm still working on a folder where I put all of my manhole cover photos. I guess you can imagine that this will take some time!
I'm planning to publish something on my blog once it's done.

JCastle Explorer has also started something similar recently, so you might want to check it out!

 

Davey

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5 Feb 2005

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• 23 Feb 2013

• #9

thanks zj, I put one (with the water mark on it) on FB with a link to this thread .

 

N

null209

Registered

27 Dec 2013

1

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• 27 Dec 2013

• #10

thomas said:

Japanese cities are famous for their large variety of manhole covers, some of them 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 deaper meaning behind those smiling insects, most likely some sort of locust...?

Click to expand...

I love Japanese manhole covers, I have a picture of this one too. This manhole cover is special because it means that the water below it is drinkable. If there is a disaster and you have no water you can remove this cover and use the water for drinking.