The motifs on the Japanese artistic manhole covers are usually selected to represent local traits. Some are easy to recognize, others require some research, and a few are making visitors ask questions…
Photographed here is a manhole cover in Beppu, which certainly represents azalea flowers. The city’s symbol flower is the Rhododendron called in Japanese Omurasaki, a species of purple azalea, with large flowers. I wonder, why they aren’t purple?

Manhole Cover, Beppu, Oita

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Kokeshi, Japanese wooden dolls