Manhole covers that feature characters from hit manga and anime are being installed throughout Tokyo with the aim of attracting fans of the series' with connections to the localities. The artistically designed manholes with colorful motifs are typically referred to as "design manholes." Fans often describe a visit to an area endowed with such manholes as a "sacred pilgrimage."
In Tokyo, 205 design manhole covers were created for 34 wards and cities in fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2020 with financial support from Tokyo metropolitan government.
The new Katsushika Ward covers recently drew fans' attention.
When the ward government announced in March its plans to install design manholes depicting characters from the hit manga "Kochikame: Tokyo Beat Cops" around JR Kameari Station, ward residents and manga fans flooded the local government with inquires such as "When will they be completed?" and "Where exactly will they be installed?"
The manga, officially titled Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo, is set in the ward. According to the ward government, the 60-centimeter-diameter manhole covers bear the images of six of the main characters, including the protagonist: Police officer Kankichi Ryotsu. Using bright colors such as pink and blue, the covers are intended to add some liveliness to the streets.
Bronze statues of Ryotsu and some of the manga's other characters have been located near the station, contributing to draw attention to the area. In addition to visitors from across Japan, fans from overseas including Taiwan who watch the anime version have also made the pilgrimage to Katsushika Ward.
The Kochikame-manholes are the ward's fourth "design manhole" project and past iterations have included Tomica (miniature toy cars), Monchhichi and Licca -- all popular brands related to the ward. "Manholers," fans of design manholes, are known to visit the ward to search for the unique sewer access points, and according to the ward government, such manholers have given local tourism a bit of a boost.
Some of the "Kochikame" manhole covers have already been installed, and the rest are slated to appear prior to the opening of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
"I've realized once again that people are very interested in design manholes," said a manager of the tourism department of the ward. "I hope more people will visit Katsushika."
As the Tokyo metropolitan government has been placing emphasis on the overseas promotion of Japanese manga and anime culture, it has also supported the creation of design manholes. "Design manholes can make each area more attractive," an official of the metropolitan government's tourism division said.
Many local governments in Tokyo have applied for the metropolitan government's design manhole subsidy program. Shinjuku Ward installed manholes that are thematically connected to its giant Godzilla statue in the Kabukicho area. City of Tama, home to Sanrio Puroland theme park, installed Hello Kitty design manholes.
--Grabbing collectible 'Manhole cards'
For those interested in having detailed information about design manholes and how they connect to local communities, manhole cards have been released.
Issued by local governments across the nation under the supervision of Gesuido Koho Platform (GKP), an organization that publicizes the roles of sewerage systems, the cards are distributed free of charge.
Thirty types of manhole cards were created by 28 municipalities starting in 2016, and the number has grown to 758 types by 575 municipalities as of April.
Many design manhole card enthusiasts travel to get their hands on such collectibles. When Katsushika Ward started giving away Monchhichi manhole cards in August 2017, it started attracting nearly 5,000 collectors a year.
Although the design manholes featuring Monchhichi are located in the Shinkoiwa area, the ward government distributes the cards at the tourist information center in the Shibamata area so that fans can travel across the ward.
"Japanese manholes are a culture that we can proudly show to the world," a GKP official said. "By showing the unique designs of manhole covers featuring the charms of local attractions, we hope municipalities will increase the public awareness of sewerage systems, which are an important part of the urban infrastructure that supports our daily lives."
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