Aya Ito

The Japanese have a knack for elevating even the most mundane things into a work of art. Case in point: the unique, intricately designed manhole covers scattered all over Tokyo and the rest of the country. While most countries make do with generic geometrics when designing lids for their underground drainage systems, Japan has turned the otherwise inconspicuous manhole cover into a form of public art fully deserving of your attention. Initially conceived by construction ministry employee Yasutake Kameda to generate awareness and grow acceptance of costly upgrades to the central sewerage system in the 1980s, this long-running manhole art project has grown to become an iconic if underappreciated part of Japan’s urban aesthetic. Today, more than 90 percent of municipalities in Japan have their own distinctive manhole designs, usually rooted in local history and culture, and there are over 10,000 different patterns and images across the country. A number of online communities of manhoru (Japanese for ‘manhole’) fans has grown alongside the project. As well as hunting and documenting manhole covers around the country, manholers, or ‘drainspotters’, often go to the extent of creating takuhon (rubbings) of the designs, either on paper or T-shirts. But you don’t have to embrace sewage-related clothing to gain an appreciation of these elaborate and unique handcrafted artworks. Next time you’re out and about in Tokyo, remember to keep one eye on the pavement – here are some of the best