South Korea

Japanese city lights up sewer covers


“They are the first illuminated manhole covers in Japan,” said a Tokorozawa official.

A humble manhole cover may not seem like a blank canvas, but one Japanese city is reimagining what’s possible with illuminated versions of anime characters.

Tokorozawa, near Tokyo, hopes the unusual additions will attract tourists, including fans of the painted manhole covers that adorn some of Japan’s streets.

“They are the first illuminated manhole covers in Japan,” city official Junichi Koike told AFP.

Japan is no stranger to decorative manhole covers, which range from ornately carved to those featuring the city’s mascot.

The city has been renovating it for at least 4 years in an effort to improve the image of the sewage system.

A subculture of manhole lovers has sprung up, with enthusiasts exchanging messages of their favorite versions on social media with the hashtag #manhotalk.

“‘Manhole covers’ like to find different kinds of manhole covers,” Koike said.

“We hope the new lighting will further improve the manhole’s dirty and smelly image and boost the local economy by attracting tourists.”

A total of 28 manhole covers were installed across the city on Aug. 1, including characters from Gundam Robot, the sci-fi animation series Evangelion and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.

Japanese Manhole Cover Anime
Samples of different designs of sewer manhole covers in Japan.

Shutterstock

From 6pm until 2am, the coverings will be lit using solar energy, illuminating the walkways leading from the city’s main train station to the new cultural complex, which houses the animation museum.

They are part of a project by the city to collect revenue by allowing private companies, in this case the major media conglomerate Kadokawa, to use the manhole covers for advertising.

But while city officials say the extra streetlights act as a crime deterrent, security guards have had to expand their patrols in case someone tries to steal or damage them.

So far, the covers have been well received by enthusiasts and local residents alike.

“They were brighter than I expected,” manhole fan Kaoru Morita, 55, told AFP.

“Usually when you’re looking for manholes, they’re not actually that easy to spot. But I can see where they are from a great distance, so it’s helpful for someone like me.”

Tatsuhiko Sato, 29, who lives in the city, admits he was a little surprised when he first saw the cover.

“But it was a nice surprise. Anime that I watch a lot can also be enjoyed this way. It’s also fun for kids.”

There are about 15 million manholes in Japan, but only a fraction are painted designs, which drive up the cost of the cover from around $600 to sometimes double that.

The cost of the illuminated cover has not been disclosed, but is covered by the sponsor, and the snazzy feature is here to stay as long as the company continues to pay for it. – Rappler.com



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