If you visited Nagoya, chances are that you stepped on this intriguing manhole cover. Although at the first sight you may be inclined to think that it depicts an alien being, in fact it represents a water strider (amenbo in Japanese) a being known for living only on very clean and unpolluted water.

The amenbo presence is an indicator for a very pure water, so it’s a perfect symbol for the Nagoya water company, which decorated its artistic manhole covers with this design…

Nagoya Manhole Cover, Nagoya

EXIF Info:

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Takamatsu-jo, the “water castle”