Nagoya manhole covers

[thomas]

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]

NAGOYA CITY I LOVE NAGOYA

 

[thomas]

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

 

[Davey]

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]

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]

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

Nice one, ZJ, feel free to share.

 

[Davey]

zoomingjapan! Thanks for posting that one, love it!

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

 

[zoomingjapan]

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]

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

 

[null209]

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...?

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.