Did you know that there is a whole community of fans of Japanese manhole covers? You learn something every day in the library. Apparently, Japanese manhole covers are elevated to the level of art- each region is given manhoru (manhole covers) with distinctive art designs- some reflecting regional distinctions, some with anime characters. They are very cool but shockingly expensive. I initially thought the covers were a form of "urban art" (ala graffiti), but they are actually state-sanctioned. The book divides the works into region, so you get to practice your Japanese pronunciation as you go, too. Any fan of urban art, graffiti, design, or Japanese culture would find this book worth perusing.
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