About Japan from... manhole covers, Kawagoe Matoi Manhole Cover

Kawagoe, a city which was, during the Edo Period, in constant battle with the fire, developed the fire resistant kurazukuri houses, but the local firemen were also famed and respected.

Since 1659, during the Spring festival, in the traditional district of Kawagoe takes place a famous performance of traditional firefighters ladder acrobatics. The drawing on the manhole cover in today's photo is inspired by this event, representing two matoi, objects used by the Edo Period firefighters to signal the presence of the firefighting team.