Drainspotting

Drainspotting displays all the art and obsession of manhoru, the intricately designed manhole covers that seal the sewers of nearly 95% of Japan’s towns. While archaic sewage systems in Japan date back more than 2,000 years, in the nineteenth century municipalities began constructing modern sewers. At that time, foreign engineers introduced the Japanese to modern, underground sewer systems with above ground access points—where manhoru were placed. At first, Japanese manhole covers used geometric designs similar to those used in other countries. But in the 1980s, when communities outside of Japan’s major cities were slated to receive new sewer systems, the public works projects were met with resistance—until one dedicated bureaucrat solved the problem by devising a way to make these mostly invisible systems aesthetically appreciated aboveground: make manhoru customized, to suit each community. Designs range from images that evoke a region's cultural identity, flora, or fauna, to landmarks and local festivals.

Unsurprisingly, this phenomenon has bred another phenomenon: manhoru mania. A rabid online community, based in Japan and abroad, has developed around this city-sanctioned urban art. Several blogs and websites dedicated to manhole covers provide details about locations and designs. With numerous colorful photographs organized by region, Drainspotting is the first book to document yet another wholly distinct aspect of contemporary Japanese visual culture.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photographer, filmmaker, writer, animator, and producer Remo Camerota runs the production company Whitewall Studios and is the author of MBP titles Graffiti Japan and Drainspotting. In 1992 he won the VEVA Award for animation and the prestigious St Kilda Film Festival Award. Between 1996 and 1998 Camerota worked extensively in television, producing over 50 episodes of the Foxtel sport show Xtreme. In 2002 he directed the Gene Simmons (of KISS) DVD Speaking in Tongues. Whitewall Studios’ clients include MTV, VH1, Redbull, GAP USA, Concave, RAGE, Nikon, Holden, Playboy, and many pop bands.