About Japan from... manhole covers, Fukuyama rose

The artistic manhole covers first appeared in Japan during the 1950s, when some Japanese cities began installing manhole covers with specially made designs. In time this became a trend, and many Japanese cities are now decorated with carefully painted manhole covers.

As I wrote before, the drawings are not only artistic but also advertise some of the local attractions, being a sort of advertising banners displayed in the pavement...

In today's photo you can see a manhole cover in Fukuyama, representing a rose, the flower symbol of the city. Actually, Fukuyama hosts every year in May a large festival dedicated to roses...