Why Japan is Obsessed with Manhole Cover Designs

In most cities around the world, manhole covers are viewed as utilitarian objects – round pieces of metal that serve a simple purpose of covering sewer access points. But in Japan, these metal discs have been transformed into an artform, featuring colorful and intricate designs that have made manholes an iconic part of Japanese culture.

A Nationwide Movement

Japan is home to over 6,000 unique manhole cover designs, spread across the country’s 1,780 municipalities. Nearly every city, town and village has embraced this trend of custom cover art.

This manhole mania has sparked a passionate subculture of “manholers” – people who seek out artistic covers on city streets and countryside roads. Online groups for manhole fans have tens of thousands of members who share photos and information.

The annual Manhole Summit event draws over 5,000 attendees. Manhole-themed goods like t-shirts, keychains, and pancakes have become popular souvenirs. For enthusiasts across Japan, these metal discs are a source of local pride and identity.

Creating Custom Covers

The artistic manhole movement began in the late 1970s. In 1977, the city of Naha debuted Japan’s first artistic cover featuring a sea turtle and fish, made to promote a new sewer system.

Seeing Naha’s success, other municipalities followed suit in the 1980s. Rural towns created unique covers as part of broader PR campaigns to get residents to support expensive sewer upgrades. By fostering community spirit around infrastructure, the towns were able to move forward with modernization projects.

Today, most artistic covers are still made individually by hand at foundries like Hinode Foundry, the nation’s largest manufacturer. Raw steel discs are machine-pressed with designs, then polished and painted by skilled workers. This meticulous process means each unique cover costs around $3,000 to produce.

But for many cities, the extra expense is worth it. Officials work closely with foundries to create covers that celebrate local culture and heritage. The handcrafted finishes ensure each design will maintain its artistic flair over decades of use.

Celebrating Regional Identity

Strolling through Japanese cities, one can encounter a wide range of custom covers that reflect regional character.

Popular motifs draw from local icons like famous landmarks, historic events, cultural activities, and natural scenery. Sapporo features its famed Snow Festival, while Nikko has carved copies of the elaborate decorations at Toshogu Shrine.

Others use local flora and fauna as motifs, like the famous sakura cherry blossoms or Sado Island’s crested ibis bird. Some towns get creative with shapes, like Shibuya’s rectangular covers with directional arrows.

These unique manhole covers often become focal points for local pride. Children delight in spotting their town mascot or flower on covers they pass every day. For older residents, the designs act as reminders of beloved traditions and landmarks.

Cultural Exchange through Manholes

As international tourism returns, Japan’s artistic manholes attract foreign visitors as well. Travel guides extol the virtues of “manhole tourism” for offbeat adventures.

Abroad, Japan’s covers are recognized globally for elevating infrastructure into art. Exhibits of Japanese covers have been held in cities like New York and London to inspire public art. Officials worldwide now reach out to groups like the Manhole Summit to learn about embracing local culture through utility design.

But the impact spans beyond the covers alone – their spirit of celebrating community, craftsmanship, and regional diversity has resonated around the world. Neighborhoods and towns in the US, South America, and Europe have launched initiatives for their own unique manhole art.

This cultural exchange reminds that art can be found in the most unexpected places. As mundane as a sewer lid may seem, in the right hands it can become a small but uplifting piece of art.

An Enduring Tradition

While novel at first, these metal canvases reveal deeper connections over time. Manhole covers offer glimpses into history, environment, and daily life. They transform overlooked urban spaces and bring people together.

Simple access points become symbols of what makes each place special. Even as materials and manufacturing evolve, it’s clear handcrafted manholes will continue to thrive as an artistic tradition in Japan.

So next time you visit Japan, keep an eye out underfoot. You’re sure to find beautiful expressions of craft, heritage, and community etched in iron and steel.