Kristina Dryza has placed an intriguing post on The David Report about an under-examined piece of Japanese visual culture. As she reports, in the 1980s one Japanese bureaucrat devised a public art project that makes manhole covers a bit more exciting. The idea to make invisible drainage systems exciting above ground took hold and now 95% of the municipalities in Japan use customized covers. They are, I must admit, pretty damn cool.

A few more examples after the jump.